Double Sea Turtle Release – Bellatirx and Guadalajara

BELLATRIX

Bellatrix is a green sea turtle, who was found on March 7, 2016, near the Dunedin Causeway. Bellatrix was washed up onshore with fibropapilloma tumors present on the front and rear flippers and moderate barnacle growth on the carapace. Fishing line was entwined around the front flippers and was wound particularly tight around the pap tumor located on the left front flipper. Bellatrix was slightly dehydrated and lethargic, but was otherwise responsive and in good body condition. We started Bellatrix on fluids and began tube feeding, while also monitoring her closely over the next few weeks.

On April 12, 2016, Bellatrix underwent surgery to remove the pap tumors surrounding her flippers. A small pap tumor had also begun to form on her eye, which we were also able to remove. Her recovery from this first surgery went smoothly! On April 18, 2016, suspicious growth had begun to form, which we were able to remove with no further complications.

We continued to look for signs of regrowth or new pap tumors, but none were found and Bellatrix is now ready to be released!

Good luck Bellatrix!

Guad

Guadalajara, or Guad as we call him, came to CMA on December 14, 2014. Upon arrival, he had the Fibropapilloma Virus (FV; paps), as well as leech eggs and leeches on his body. The paps were extensive and present on his eyes, flippers, and base of flippers. Guad also suffered injuries to his carapace, or shell, which included a slight fracture and a hole with a gouge at the lateral edge of the crack. Moderate edema, or build up of extra watery fluids in the body tissue cavities and anemia was also present. Guad appeared to be quiet and dull, but responsive to stimuli. He struggled with breathing in water, and it was determined that he was not behaviorally strong enough to swim, which resulted in him being dry docked with swim tests being conducted regularly. In order to ensure he was receiving proper nutrition, he was tube fed with gruel, a combination of herring and saline.

On January 4, 2015, Guad was first moved to the kiddie pool overnight and did well. His shell injury continued healing and was covered for protection while submerged in water. By January 30 tube feedings were discontinued and he was started on solid foods. On March 9 we received the news that he was no longer anemic, and the first surgery to remove the paps growths was successfully performed on the 11th. Following the surgery slight breathing problems arose, which he was started on a nebulizer to treat. The nebulizer treatments were discontinued on July 31. Fibropapilloma growths did return on his eyes, and a second surgery was performed on November 11th, and again on March 8th, 2016. We are happy to say that Guad has now been paps free for over 73 days, and it is now time for him to return back home to the ocean! Although we will miss him here, we are extremely happy with his success! Happy travels Guad!

Guad and Bellatrix were two of four sea turtles released in three weeks!