By CATHERINE DONNELLY
Special to the PRESS
On Tuesday, January 30, the Kemp Ridley’s Sea Turtle named Star was rescued approximately two months ago and is now being released back into the gulf waters.
According to Taylor Dunham, the Environmental Educator at Sea Turtle Inc. (STInc), Star is a Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle who has been a patient at Sea Turtle, Inc. for approximately two months. She is now being released after being successfully rescued and rehabilitated by staff from the non-profit organization.
It was reported by STInc., Star is a 58-pound Kemp’s Ridley’s Sea Turtle that was found floating in the entrance of South Bay and successfully rescued by staff. The rescue group measures and weighs their incoming patients and takes a small blood sample to assess their internal health.
According to STInc.’s Facebook video, Star’s rescue and rehabilitation, they gave her fluids to help hydrate, administered antibiotics, and gave her vitamin B. She was then placed her in a tub overnight in a temperature-controlled room to rest. When she was deemed ready, she was put in a larger tank. Star initially had buoyancy issues, though was swimming and eating well.
STInc. has recently added a new tier to their mission, which is now: Education, Conservation, Medical Care and Applied Research. Satellite tags on released turtles will help gather valuable information for research purposes, especially for the Kemp’s Ridleys, which is still very much surrounded by mystery.
Star is the very first Ridley to have a satellite tag on her, as reported on Sea Turtle Inc.’s Facebook page.
Anytime Star comes up to surface to take a breath, the satellite tag sends a signal that the research department, captures and sees data in real time. Dr. Amy Bonka, Chief Conservation Officer and head of the new research department, gave an update on Star and her role in helping with Sea Turtle, Inc.’s research.
Bonka said, “[The tag will enable us] to see where she’s going as Star’s moving throughout the gulf, and hopefully eventually as she comes back to nest and do all those different behaviors, so it’s really exciting that we’re going to get to learn from her,” and continues, “This is going to help us know a lot of really cool things like where she’s going, what she’s doing, where she’s feeding and where she is out in the gulf.”
Further documented on the Facebook post informs, Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles live in the gulf but have been found as far away as Ireland at times. The tag will help researchers follow where Star goes next. Star is the second sea turtle to go out with a satellite tag attached, but the first Kemp’s Ridley to do so.
Bonka finishes up with the statement, “I’m curious to know if she will head north, or south, or stay near us,” and closes with, “I don’t know what she’ll do next, but it will be exciting to learn.”
For more information about Sea Turtles and their rescue, go to www.seaturtleinc.org.
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