Kermit

A project of .

click map for full-size version Kermit, green sea turtle

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Species: Green Turtle
Life Stage: juvenile
Gender: Unknown
Release Date: 2009-06-22 07:10:00
Release Location: Sandbridge, Virginia Beach
Last Location: 2010-06-01 00:00:00

Adoptive Parents:
Kermit's Sandbridge Friends
Fred Hunt & Monica Labrie
Lisa & Vicki
Maria Sellers

Background

Kermit stranded on Sandbridge Beach in Virginia Beach, Virginia on September 20th, 2008. This juvenile green sea turtle was lethargic and emaciated weighing in at only 5 pounds. A barium series and an endoscopic examination revealed a variety of trash lodged in his esophagus including: pieces of latex balloon, plastic, mesh and paper with English writing on one side and Spanish writing on the other (maybe from an instructional pamphlet). The foreign matter was carefully removed over several surgical sessions. Kermit’s esophagus was so damaged that he had limited ability to swallow food. As a result, Kermit had to be tube fed 3-4 times a day until his condition improved. On release day, Kermit was twice his stranding weight at 11 pounds.
Kermit’s case illustrates that it’s not easy being green as bits of plastic and latex and mylar balloons are not uncommon findings in stranded sea turtles, especially green sea turtles who feed in the grass beds, and leatherback sea turtles who feed on jellyfish.
A big THANK YOU goes out to the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team volunteers, Beach Pet Hospital and the First Colonial High School Earth Club.