Rehabilitated Turtles Released Back Into Natural Habitat

The release of 12 rehabilitated Kemp's ridley turtles into the warm waters off Cape Charles, VA the morning of June 15 may help future oil-contaminated sea turtles. The Virginia Aquarium and the New England Aquarium have combined their "patients" for this release so that "beds" in their individual facilities might be available for oiled turtles from the Gulf of Mexico.

These highly endangered sea turtles were returned to their natural habitat at the end of Randolph Ave. beside the Cape Charles Beach Gazebo this morning at 11:00 AM.

Ten of the Kemp's ridleys came from the New England Aquarium. These turtles stranded in Cape Cod Bay in November and December, suffering from cold stunning, a condition that occurs when sea turtles are exposed to extremely cold water. Their patients names have a National Parks theme: Saguaro; Valley Forge; Yucca House; Buck Island Reef (the smallest turtle which came in at 2.16 lbs. and is now a whopping 4.41 lbs.; Lassen Volcanic; Ulysses S. Grant (nicknamed by volunteers as "the General"; Lowell (not named after Mike Lowell from the Red Sox); Pinnacles (the largest turtle who weighs 13.56 lbs.); Pecos; and Ellis Island.

Common symptoms associated with cold stunning are dehydration, lethargy, and starvation. According to New England Aquarium staff, Yucca House came in with an undetectable heart rates via their Doppler and had to have an ultrasound done to make sure the turtle was still alive. Both Lassen Volcanic and Lowell had severe pneumonia early on in the rehabilitation process and underwent nebulization therapy to help clear the lungs.

The "local" Kemps ridleys who rehabbed at the Virginia Aquarium Marine Animal Care Center are "Stormin Norman" and "Kalikimaka." Stormin' Norman stranded during the November 20, 2009, Nor'easter. He was cold-stunned with a few scratches and a head injury. According to Aquarium staff, Norman initially weighed 2.87 lbs. and he has "fattened-up to 8.71 lbs. while awaiting warmer waters for his release.

"Kalikimaka," named after the Hawaiian phrase "Mele Kalikimaka" meaning Merry Christmas, was found by a couple on Virginia Beachs Sandbridge Beach December 23, 2009. Kalikimaka was emaciated, cold-stunned, missing one rear flipper, and had severe trauma to both eyes. The Kemps ridley was treated with internal antibiotics as well as drops for its eyes. Kalikimaka has retained sight in both eyes and swims as if he had both
rear flippers. The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program's mission is to promote the conservation of marine animal species through stranding response, research, rehabilitation and education. It is largely a volunteer-basedgroup operating from the Aquarium's Marine Animal Care Center in Virginia Beach. The program is supported by the Virginia Aquarium Foundation through donations from the community, and grant-making organizations.

To report a dead or live stranded marine mammal or sea turtle call the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program 24-hour hotline at (757) 437-6159.

www.shoredailynews.com

Sick Whale Euthanized Off Coast Of North Carolina

HATTERAS, N.C. (WAVY) - A Coast Guard boat crew responded to reports of a stranded whale off Hatteras Inlet, N.C., Saturday afternoon.

The whale was identified as a 20 to 30-foot humpback whale.

A Coast Guard boat crew from Hatteras Inlet transported members from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Virginia Aquarium, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and veterinarians from North Carolina State University to administer aid to the whale.

Veterinarians determined that whale had to be euthanized. It will be taken to a location off Hatteras Inlet on Monday.

http://www.wavy.com/

Here are some facts we may have forgotten about this type of whale:

Humpback whales are known for their magical songs, which travel for great distances through the world's oceans. These sequences of moans, howls, cries, and other noises are quite complex and often continue for hours on end. Scientists are studying these sounds to decipher their meaning. It is most likely that humpbacks sing to communicate with others and to attract potential mates.

These whales are found near coastlines, feeding on tiny shrimp-like krill, plankton, and small fish. Humpbacks migrate annually from summer feeding grounds near the poles to warmer winter breeding waters closer to the Equator. Mothers and their young swim close together, often touching one another with their flippers with what appear to be gestures of affection. Females nurse their calves for almost a year, though it takes far longer than that for a humpback whale to reach full adulthood. Calves do not stop growing until they are ten years old.

Humpbacks are powerful swimmers, and they use their massive tail fin, called a fluke, to propel themselves through the water and sometimes completely out of it. These whales, like others, regularly leap from the water, landing with a tremendous splash. Scientists aren't sure if this breaching behavior serves some purpose, such as cleaning pests from the whale's skin, or whether whales simply do it for fun.

They can weight up to 40 tons and grow the size comparable to a bus. Status is endangered.

www.nationalgeographic.com

Seal Stranded On Virginia Beach Shore

Katie Collett

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY.com) - Jimmy Hillegass hit the beach in Sandbridge early Sunday morning to snap some quick shots of the sunrise, but his focus quickly changed.

"I noticed something rather large down on the other end of the beach," says Hillegass.

He pointed his lens at the mysterious object near the Little Island Fishing Pier.

"I saw more people kind of walking down. I saw dogs going around this...I thought maybe it was a log."

Jimmy moved closer and he found it wasn't a log at all. It was a gray seal stranded on the beach.

"You could tell it was in trouble. It had those sad, puppy dog eyes."

Jimmy's heart broke for the animal, so he contacted WAVY.com for help. We called the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response team who said they tried to help the seal Saturday evening, but it got dark fast making it dangerous to monitor the seal.

When crews went out after Jimmy left the beach Sunday morning, the gray seal was gone.

"As I was leaving I noticed the tide was coming in I'm thinking, well maybe that's what it would take to ship this seal out," said Jimmy.

However, rescue crews say they actually wanted the seal to stay on shore.

One stranding technician told WAVY.com the seal's behavior was a little off and he looked thin, possibly 200 pounds on his six foot long frame. She wanted to see if he was healthy enough to get back in the water and that's all Jimmy hopes for as well.

"Hopefully it'll live and if not, it'll feed other life."

The gray seal is rare to our area and officials say while it may be cute, it's one of the most aggressive of seals near our shores.

So, if it washes up again, keep your distance, keep all pets on a leash, and immediately call the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response team at 437-6159.

www.wavy.com