PacMan

Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program Tracking

A project of Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response.

click map for full-size version PacMan's travels

Full-Size Map (42KB)
Animated Map (333KB)

Species: Loggerhead
Life Stage: Juvenile
Gender: Unknown
Release Date: 2012-07-19 02:00:00
Release Location: Sandbridge Beach, Virginia Beach, VA
Last Location: 2012-09-20 23:16:16

Adoptive Parents:
Karen O'Neil
Ricardo/Andres Cedeno
Jack & Rex Kirschner
Claire & Grace Pierce
Tina Hosten
Ms. Thomas' Science Class

Background

On June 24, 2012, PacMan, a 73 pound loggerhead sea turtle, was hooked on the Oceanview Fishing Pier in Norfolk, VA. The fisherman was able to bring PacMan onto the pier and cut the line, leaving enough line for the Stranding Team to work with. Using a special sea turtle dehooking kit, the circle hook which was deeply embedded in the esophagus, was successfully removed. PacMan was placed on precautionary antiboitics to prevent any infection from occurring.
PacMan began eating right away, responded well to treatment and was able to be released just a month after stranding.
If you accidentally hook a sea turtle, leave at least one foot of line for rehabilitators to work with and call your local sea turtle stranding team immediately.