Shenandoah
- Patient Status
- Current
- Date Found
- February 28, 2023
- Location
- Indian Rocks Beach; Pinellas County
- Reason for Rescue
- floating in distress
Initial Assessment
- Weight
- 114 kg (251 lbs)
- SCL (Straight Carapace Length)
- 90.1 cm
- Exam Findings
- Complete amputation to left front flipper that is completely healed. Responsive. Moderate amount of epibiota on carapace.
- Initial Treatment
- Vitamin injections, fluids, and antibiotics.
Shenandoah‘s Story
Shenandoah is an adult, male loggerhead who was found floating in distress off of Indian Shores beach in Pinellas County on Feb. 28. Shenandoah has a complete amputation to the left front flipper that is completely healed and is likely unrelated to stranding. Initial diagnostics include testing for potential red tide exposure and radiographs. Shenandoah is active and alert, and we are hopeful for a recovery!
INTERESTING FACT: Shenandoah is named after Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, USA. Shenandoah is a confirmed male sea turtle. Gender is difficult, sometimes impossible, to determine externally if they are immature and/or juvenile sea turtles. Once males reach sexually maturity, their tales extend pass their carapace unlike females. Shenandoah’s tail length is 24.6 cm.
Treatment Updates
- 3.1.23
-
Shenandoah was placed in water for the first time. Due to his activity level, the pool was drained to lower levels to help him achieve better breaths. We will slowly increase his swim time and water level as he improves.
- 3.2.23
-
Shenandoah ate a piece of squid that was offered! We also started him on IV nutrition, this will help him improve by giving important nutrients and also aid in flushing any possible brevetoxins if there was exposure.
- 3.4.23
-
Sample processing from FWRI (Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute) has confirmed high levels of red tide exposure for Shenandoah. We will continue with current treatment plan. He is able to be in shallow water a few hours a day!
- 3.9.23
-
Shenandoah is still in one of our ICU pools, we have been gradually increasing the water level. Shenandoah had a routine exam that included recheck labwork (including red tide). Shenandoah was offically started on a diet!
- 3.14.23
-
Shenandoah is able to be in his ICU pool filled halfway all day and overnight! Appetite is great – currently eating around 2lbs of food a day! Recheck bloodwork for brevetoxin showed decrease in toxin levels!
All marine turtle footage taken in Florida was obtained with the approval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under conditions not harmful to marine turtles. Footage was acquired while conducting authorized conservation activities pursuant to FWC MTP-23/24-172.