文献类型： 会议论文

第一作者： Glenn R. Harman

作者： Glenn R. Harman ¹ ; Kelly Rowles ¹ ;

作者机构： 1.Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA), 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, Fl 33767

会议名称： International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine

主办单位：

页码： 39-40

摘要： Leatherback sea turtles are the largest species of reptile by weight, weighing as much as 2000 lbs. They are typically a pelagic species, generally seen close to shore only during nesting season. On March 4, 2000 an adult female leatherback stranded on Anna Maria Island. Anna Maria Island is located south of the mouth of Tampa Bay on the West Coast of Florida. Initially biologists were skeptical that a leatherback had actually stranded alive, feeling that the stranding was most likely a large loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta carettd). In the past twenty years of stranding data only one leatherback has stranded in the Tampa Bay area, and that specimen was severely decomposed. Upon arriving on the scene, biologist from CMA confirmed that a leatherback had indeed stranded. Upon initial evaluation, it was determined that a boat had hit the turtle, and its left front flipper had been nearly severed by a rope constriction. The rope that had caused the wound to the left front flipper was no longer around the animal, however because of recent encounters with crab trap line entanglements observed in four other leatherback rescues, it was determined that a crab line was the most likely cause of the wound to the flipper. It was decided by biologists at the seen that the wounds this animal was suffering from were life threatening, and that the animal should be transferred to CMA for treatment. Upon arrival at CMA staff veterinarians determined that remaining portion of the flipper was in such a state necrosisthat amputation was required. That night Dr. Bill Goldston amputated the left front flipper. Because the wound had been opened and was so large, much of the amputated area was unable to be fully closed. The turtle was immediately placed on enerofloxin tocombat a host of possible infections. Because of the lack of experience with leatherbacks, blood sampling, normally easy and efficient in other species of marine turtles, became a major challenge in this animal. An initial blood sample was taken for theright flipper, this sample revealed little information since no base line data on leatherbacks was available. Leatherbacks are different from other species of marine turtle, in that they do not posses a hard shell and their skin is extremely delicate. The turtle was initially weighed (790 lbs.) and measured (1.6 meters long), and then placed in a portable K-D pool. It was hoped that the soft sides of the K-D pool would prevent abrasions to the turtles delicate skin. Anna, as the turtle became know, wasplaced into the K-D pool on March 5, 2000. Initially this the tank proved to be the perfect rehabilitation tank for this species of turtle. Treatment involved cleaning and debriding her wounds on her carapace and the remaining portion of her left frontflipper. In addition we began tube feeding a squid gruel. After ten days of treatment, it was determined that the treatement was doing more harm to Anna's delicate structure than good. It was decided by staff veterinarians and biologists that the best hope for Anna was to release her several miles offshore, and hope for the best. On March 16, 2000 Anna was released 5 miles of Clearwater Pass. Upon release Anna immediately dove out of site, apparently uninhibited by the loss of her front flipper.

分类号： Q95-532