CLEARWATER BEACH - Staff and volunteers from the Mote Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital will make a trip to Frenchy's Restaurant on Nov. 3 to celebrate the end of another sucessful sea turtle rehabilitation.
Andre II, a subadult loggerhead sea turtle, was found floating off Pinellas Point near the Sunshine Skyway Causeway in St. Petersburg in September. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded and transported the turtle to Mote for care.
Hospital staff discovered that the turtle was anemic, lethargic and covered with barnacles and algae - a sign the turtle had been ill for quite some time. Treatment began immediately. Tests showed that the turtle was unable to dive. Further testing showed that the turtle's illness was not cause by red tide. Andre II has pheumonia and excess air in the intestines. Additional air also was found in the body cavity.
Andre II was given antibiotics for the pneumonia and treated for the anemia. The excessive air was removed, and the turtle began to dive successfully to the bottom of the rehab tank. The turtle has continued to improve, gaining weight and strength and has been declared fit for release.
Mote is preparing to release two additional rehabilitated male loggerhead sea turtles with the next couple of weeks. Both turtles were stranded as a result of red tide toxicosis and will be tagged with satellite transmitters.
The release of these turtles marks Mote's first scientific findings of adult male loggerheads that have recovered from red tide. Mote's Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program will be tracking the movement of the turtles and monitoring the possible interaction with environmental factors, such as red tide exposure and changing water temperature, upon release.
