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CAPE

That's a well used beak
Loggerhead

Caretta caretta

Adult Female
Admit
July 12, 2001		 Release
Weight 160-170 kg
SCL 92.6 cm
SCW 69.3 cm
THE STRANDING She was found onshore at the tip of Cape Lookout Point, below the high tide line, by Allen Brooks, a volunteer with the NC Maritime Museum's Cape Lookout Studies Program.  Also on the beach were students on an educational field trip
with the Education Director for the NC Coastal Federation, Jessica Kester.
These great photos courtesy of Allen Brooks. 
Allen found her about 7AM, and said he thought she was dead,
"until I leaned down to look at her eye and she looked back".

The sea turtle was transported by trailer to the environmental studies field station at Cape Lookout, and then by boat to Shell Point on Harker's Island.
There she was met by Susana Clusella, the assistant sea turtle coordinator for North Carolina, who drove her the remainder of the way to us.
THE TREATMENT This is an adult loggerhead, weak, with sunken eyes and thin neck. There are no signs of injury.  Carapace has carpet of reddish algae and barnacles.
She was placed shallow water and offered squid.  The squid were readily accepted but difficult to swallow, although she did manage to consume several .
Turtles seem to love showers.
TREATMENT Over the next few days she continued to eat and the water level in the tank has been raised.
Everyday the tanks are drained, cleaned and each turtle gets
a little rinse and wipe.
One of our interns gives Cape a scrub.
Sept 2001 Daily weight gain evident.  She is eating 5.5 pounds of squid per day.
OCT 2001
The winning trifecta of  Pepper out to sea, winter coming and the arrival of Channel, was awarded to Cape, who was able to move into a luxurious 8 ft tank. 
Convincing her to move was another matter. 
She successfully wrestled with about six volunteers for 30 minutes or so until a big blue tarp could be scooted underneath her so that she could be lifted and carried to her new tank. Might finally made right, but marginally so.
Once in water the turtle appeared unfazed, which is more than we could say for the rest of us.  I think we can say she is regaining her strength.
MAY 2002 A growth over the left eye appeared within the last few months. It was removed May 29th and we await the biopsy.
Released June 5, 2002