The Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is a fully functional veterinary hospital. Approximately 40-50 sick or injured sea turtles are treated annually.  Over 70% of the turtles treated recover fully and are released back into the ocean. In addition we also care for more than 1,000 tiny hatchlings each season, giving them a second chance at survival and release into the sea.

The rehabilitative procedures at the veterinary hospital include x-rays and bloodwork which are performed on every patient (excluding hatchlings) including a thorough examination by the LMC veterinarian.  A treatment plan is developed specific to the patients needs which might include medication, nutritional and physical therapy and possibly surgery if required. Once a turtle is healthy enough to survive on its own the turtle is returned to the ocean.

A TESTIMONIAL of INCREDIBLE STRENGTH

Gilda’s Saga

Gilda is an adult loggerhead female that stranded in the intake wells of the Port Everglades power plant October 8th 2008.  Her injuries were consistent with motor-craft injury, with both sharp and blunt trauma to both front flippers.  She had lost huge amounts of blood and was completely unable to swim;  just floating at the mercy of the current.

She was brought to the LMC for assessment and treatment.  The right front flipper was traumatically amputated at level of the humerus (upper arm bone) and the remaining bone fragment was protruding from the wound.  The left front flipper had an open fracture of the radius (forearm bone) and the ulna (forearm bone) was dislocated from the carpus (wrist). The severity of the blood loss made it necessary to have a blood transfusion before surgery.  Two loggerhead sea turtles from Sea World in Orland acted as donors to ensure that Gilda could make it through this emergency procedure.

This first surgery, done by Dr. Nancy Mettee, involved completely removing the stump that was all that remained of the right front flipper.  This would allow for less drag in the water, improved stability, and proper wound healing.  Simultaneously, Dr. Steve Hansen placed a bone plate on the radial fracture and used a second plate to fuse the ulna to the wrist creating a stable, strong flipper.  Gilda’s recovery was smooth and she was moved into a tank ASAP.

To provide nutritional support, as she was not eating, a feeding tube was surgically placed into her esophagus 4 weeks after the initial surgery.  This tube would allow for daily medication and feeding without stressing Gilda by removing her from the tank and possibly putting pressure on the implant. 
 
The initial healing in the first 2 months allowed rigid fixation for the scar tissue to fill in.  However, due to the lack of available skin to completely close the surgical area on the left front flipper and the infection that was present pre-op, ultimately,  the steel implant was rejected.  The plates were removed in a second surgery 10 weeks after placement.   The wound was cleared of a tremendous amount of necrotic (dead) tissue. This debridement resulted in a 3 cm defect in the flipper that extended all the way through from top to bottom.  Gilda was placed on “bed rest” with minimal activity while the wounds healed.

Once Gilda’s weight and nutritional status had improved the feeding tube was removed.   She began to eat on her own, much to the relief and joy of many LMC volunteers.

Since that time Gilda has been recovering steadily, gaining strength and weight.  The defect has been filling in with scar tissue and constricting down so that now it is <0.5 cm and no longer goes all the way through.  Gilda’s primary concern at this time is physical therapy to strengthen her remaining front flipper and get her ready for release in as good a shape as is possible.  This will necessitate coordination with Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota.  They have offered to place Gilda in one of their large dolphin tanks to allow her to exercise more effectively. Once she is as fit as possible she will be released from our shore.

Gilda’s saga has been arduous, with numerous surgeries, cultures, antibiotic regimens, analgesics, cans of food, and eventually sardines. Her recovery truly has taken a village.  It has been estimated that only 0.1% of hatchlings survive to adulthood.  Gilda is the 1 in 1,000 turtle.  She is the hatchling that survived to adulthood to pass on the strength of her genes to new generations of turtles.  If this one individual nests for 30 years, and lays 6 nests a year that equals 18,000 eggs.  That means that she will be responsible for 18 new, strong, adults for the future of their species… and of ours.

Current Patients

Visit our current patients at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center and see what's happening firsthand.  Throughout the day you might see medications and injections being given, feedings, procedures or possibly the weekly weigh-ins.  If you are lucky you may even be here during a surgery that is open for public viewing or when a new patient arrives or is released.  If so you may have the opportunity to view the intake procedures or surgery through our observation windows or even wish a turtle good luck as they are relesed into the ocean behind the Center.

Due to the recent cold snap we have admitted 80 new patients since Jan 14th.  Most have been rehabilitated and released.  As of Jan 20th we have 23 turtles left.

       COME BY AND VISIT              

    Julia- wound

          Jackson-monofilament ingestion

   Swifty- Hook ingestion

   Turtwig- Carapace injury          

      Morgan  - Boat related injury 
ADOPT ME TODAY !     

   Gilda-Boat prop. injuries. Amputated right flipper, surgical plate in left flipper to repair fractured ulnar.  ADOPT ME TODAY!              

  Hatchlings- The season is over but Adoptions are still possible.

  Leucystic Hatchling- We have leucystic hatchlings at the center on and off throughout the nesting season. There are currently none at center.

OUR TURTLES NEED YOUR HELP!

Adopt a Sea Turtle today by CLICKING HERE!  One adoption goes a long way!