CLEARWATER, FL (March 28, 2024)– Pearl, an adult, female diamondback terrapin, was found floating June 16 near a seawall in Palm Harbor. Her carapace – or shell – had injuries, and Pearl was lethargic, underweight, and had minimal use of her rear legs at intake examination.
She was CMA’s first ever intake of an injured adult diamondback from Pinellas county.
Pearl’s rehabilitation plan consisted of routine wound debridement to promote healing, bandage changes that included topical healing ointments, and daily cold laser treatments for several months. Cold laser therapy is a low-intensity laser that stimulates damaged cells to regrow and heal using low levels of light.
“Pearl had a long, linear wound to the left side of her carapace that could have been fatal if left untreated due to the proximity to her lungs and spine,” said Dr. Shelly Marquardt, CMA veterinarian. “It’s amazing how well these animals can heal if given the right conditions. She has a feisty personality which helped, and made her a staff favorite during her time in rehab,” said Marquardt.
Pearl regained use of her rear legs within a few weeks and gained over 0.5 lb. while in rehab with CMA’s diet plan. Now that Pearl is healthy and her carapace injuries have healed, she was ready to be released back into a natural brackish habitat.
Great care was taken with Pearl, as she was acclimated to the environment she was found in which was close to full strength sea water. In rehab, a lower salinity is more conducive to rehab animals. CMA also slowly introduced some prey items that she will encounter back in the wild, such as crabs and snails.
Coincidentally, March is the one-year anniversary of the new diamondback terrapin conservation regulations – which enacted new laws to protect diamondback terrapins as they are an imperiled species and populations continue to decline. It is now illegal to take them and recreational crabbers are required to use By Catch Reduction Devices.
CMA also rescued a tiny diamondback terrapin hatchling this month, and also has resident diamondback terrapins Franklin and Jules that can be seen by visitors.
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Media Contact: Marsha Strickhouser | mstrickhouser@CMAquarium.org | (727) 242-0770
- About Clearwater Marine Aquarium
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working marine rescue center dedicated to inspiring the human spirit through leadership in education, research, rescue, rehabilitation and release. With a mission to preserve the environment and its marine life, CMA is home to rescued dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, a nurse shark and more. Through Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, CMA conducts important global research focused on protecting manatees, North Atlantic right whales and sea turtles. Major motion picture Dolphin Tale (2011) and its sequel Dolphin Tale 2 (2014) features the true stories of rescued resident dolphins Winter and Hope, inspiring millions around the world. The mission and potential to change people’s lives differentiates Clearwater Marine Aquarium from any other aquarium in the world.
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We believe in preserving our environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life; environmental education; research; and conservation.
A Florida non-profit 501(c)(3) organization