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Blog & News

Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Release – Weasley

Released Animals Updated August 5, 2018 Posted September 26, 2016

sea turtle release at Clearwater Beach

Weasley

Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)
sea turtle release at Clearwater Beach
Released
September 26, 2016

Hooked by a Fisherman

Weasley was named during a Harry Potter naming theme, and he certainly managed to get into some mischief! He was accidentally hooked by a local fisherman in the Clearwater Marina on September 6, 2016. The fisherman immediately contacted Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s stranding hotline and the stranding team was able to come out to pick up the turtle.

Hook Removal and Treatment

Weasley was a healthy turtle, aside from the hook he swallowed. The same day of his rescue, he was taken for x-ray to determine the size, location, and orientation of the hook. Since Weasley was in great shape and the hook wasn’t caught far into the esophagus, our veterinarian, Dr. Marquardt, conducted a scope procedure the same day to remove the hook. The hook was successfully removed and the esophagus appeared to only have minor damage where the hook caught. To avoid irritating the damaged area, Weasley was put on a regime of TPN, a nutritional supplement given intravenously. After a follow up scope, the damaged area was healing nicely and Weasley was weaned onto a full diet of squid and shrimp.

After just a short 3 weeks, Dr. Marquardt gave Weasley a clean bill a health and he has been cleared by FWC to return to the wild. He will be released on Monday, September 26th at 10:30am off of the Sand Pearl Hotel on Clearwater Beach.


Watch Weasley’s release video:

Previous Post: Green Sea Turtle Release – Owl
Next Post: Triple Sea Turtle Release

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.
We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium
249 Windward Passage
Clearwater, FL 33767
727-441-1790

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