Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center - Sharky

CURRENT
PATIENTS

FACILITY
AND STAFF

SCHOOLS
& SCOUTS

piver	dare	pepper	bear	sharkey	avon	oakie	coquina	honey	hook
stacys	kiawah	baldy	bay	isle

SHARKY

Loggerhead
(Caretta caretta)
Juvenile

	Admitted: June 19, 2000	Released: October 2001
SCL:	64.4 cm	68.4 cm
SCW:	53.6 cm	57.8 cm
WEIGHT:	33.6 Kg

THE INJURY	Found in a pound net on 6/16/00 in Core Sound, NC, debilitated with carapace and rear flipper trauma, probably from a shark bite. The bite wound seems to be about 2 - 4 weeks old. Shark bite top and bottom After the shark bite the sea turtle appears to have been struck by a boat propeller. The propeller strike cut the dorsal side of the cloaca and sliced through the left femur. The wound is covered in Silvadene

THE TREATMENT	The exposed left flipper was amputated and surgically covered with muscle and skin, The surgery was performed in Morehead City by a visiting veterinarian from the NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine. The next day the turtle was taken to the Vet School. Here Dr. Wosar and the Turtle Team gave the turtle a thorough examination and wound debridement. The shark bites were lavaged & maggots, dead bone, and soft tissue were removed. The rear carapace fractures were stabilized with circlage wires.
UPDATE 6/19/00	Sharky was admitted in to the KBSTRRC 6/19/00 with a PCV of 26% and glucose 135 mg/dl. She has been placed in fresh water temporarily and will be placed in sea water later in the week. The wound will cleaned and observed for maggots on 6/21 and Silvadene, an antibiotic cream, will be re-applied. A schedule of Fortaz was initiated.

UPDATE 6/21/00	Sharky was placed in sea water today. She is showing signs of improvement and has a good appetite. Dr. Lewbart follows up surgery with a house call
UPDATE 12/00	Sharky continues to imrove. AS the healing continues, dead bone falls off.
MAY 2001
Sept 2001	Sharky has blood drawn and receives tags to prepare for release within the next few weeks. A 3 flippered turtle can survive, navigate, mate and nest, as evidenced on our beach every year.