|
|
INDEX |
AND STAFF |
TRACKING |
|
|
ALBUM |
|
 |
Lepidochelys kempi juvenile
|
|
| THE STRANDING | This
Sea Turtle was found in poor body
condition:
Carapace fractures, severe ulcer over left stiple (knee joint), mandibular ulcer, and generally underweight. Presented to the Veterinarian Doctors at the NC State
University College
of Veterinary Medicine, radiographs confirmed no foreign
The left stiple joint is abnormal apparently the result of
ostemyelitis
|
| TREATMENT | Dare was transported to the
KBSTRRC.
Here we administer antibiotics Amikacin and Clindamycin by injection
and
flush the stiple wound.
Dare also receives physical therapy for the rear flipper.  |
| PROGNOSIS | Dare is eating on her own, the bone infection being the main concern now. |
| THE
ORDEAL
9/14 - 9/23 |
Hurricane Floyd left behind
devastating
floods.
These flood waters reached the home of volunteers, the Chadwicks, who were watching over Bettie, JR and Dare. For the full dramatic story and rescue please see The Hurricane Story. The Chadwicks were forced to evacuate from their home, leaving
the turtles
behind in tanks, lashed to the barn. The tanks eventually broke
loose
as the water rose, and floated freely until stopped by woods.  |
| UPDATE 10/99 | Dr. Craig Harms and a student prepare
portable xray
equipment.
  perhaps due to the hurricane ordeal.  |
| UPDATE 3/15/00 | PCV 32%, Glucose 119 mg/dl
SCL: 33.9 SCW: 32.7 WT: 5.6 kg Not eating well, very lethargic |
| UPDATE May 2001 | 
Dare had continued to improve physically, but appears to have some neurological damage and eventual release is questionable. |
| UPDATE
JAN 2002
|
   A visit from the vet school provides students with an opportunity to work hands on with the sea turtles.  Carapace shape 1/30/02
|
| NOV 2003 |   |
| MAY 2004 |  |
| SEPT 2004 |  |
| MAR 9, 2005 | The "spot" or infection on the carapace
continues
to grow despite every effort to combat "it". The cause is unknown
and two biopsies were inconclusive.
Dare was taken to the School of Veterinary Medicine at NC State for a CT scan and further evaluation .  
The CT scan reveals the trouble is more that surface deep. Surgery will be required, however the prognosis is not good. Dare will travel back to the vet school on Tuesday, March 9th for surgery. |
| MAR 10, 2005 | A laparoscopy was
performed
and revealed that the unknown mass was self contained and other tissue
and organs were not involved. At this point we agreed that
surgery
was a viable option. Dare was in surgery for seven hours.
A hole was cut through the carapace,
larger than
the lesion. A fibrous looking mass weighing about 2 pounds (.9 kg) was
removed. The mass had compressed the lung into the spine.
After
removal the lung reinflated.
The surgical team was fantastic and did everything possible to save this special turtle. Our thanks to all at the NC State school of Veterinary Medicine, with special thanks to Dr. Duncan Lascelles, Dr. Craig Harms and Dr. Greg Lewbart . Dare was then transported back to the KBSTRRC where she lived through the night and into the morning. She responded to the voices of the morning crew and then just slipped away. She joins Windy, Siete, Trump, Neuse and countless others in peace. |
Dare will be buried
at sea in an artificial reef off Topsail Island. The reef ball was be
made by Atlanta-based Eternal Reefs Inc.  This plaque is placed on
the reef ball
 Eternal Reefs has combined Dare's cremated remains with environmentally safe concrete to form an artificial reef lowered to the ocean floor. Eternal Reefs say Dare is the first sea turtle whose remains are in one of the reefs. "Our staff has chosen to memorialize Dare as a symbol of all the tens of thousands of sea turtles, and other marine animals, who die each year, many of them as a result of human irresponsibility. We hope Dare's reef ball will be a reminder of the value and beauty of our fellow species. We return Dare to her ocean home, to be part of it forever" Jean Beasley, Director KBSTRRC |
 |
