Virginia Aquarium Saves Kermit The Sea Turtle

By Joan Barnes

Norfolk, VA - News flash from Kermit the green sea turtle here, “I do not like trash because it makes me greener than usual – stomach-wise that is!” Kermit, a green sea turtle Chelonia mydas, is the latest “patient” of the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team. Rescued by a swimmer in Sandbridge September 20, Kermit was found in the surf floating upside down.

Once at the Aquarium’s Marine Animal Care Center, Kermit was found to be extremely thin, lethargic, anemic and dehydrated.

Despite the fact that he began eating squid within a few days, Kermit developed an odor and lesions in the mouth, had buoyancy issues and still acted sluggish. Last Friday, when the Aquarium’s veterinarian noticed an irregularity on Kermit’s radiograph, he was taken to Beach Pet Hospital for a barium series and an endoscopy to get a closer look. The endoscopic examination revealed a variety of trash lodged in his esophagus including: pieces of plastic, paper, rubber band and balloon; and even pieces of newspaper (written in Spanish). The foreign matter was carefully removed but Kermit is still being carefully monitored.

Unfortunately, the Stranding Response Team has frequently worked with marine animals affected by the ingestion of trash. In 2000, a snack sized potato chip bag was found lodged in the gastrointestinal tract of a 15-foot, stranded pygmy sperm whale. This small snack bag blocked the whale’s intestinal tract and caused the animal to starve to death.  And in 2003, a harbor porpoise that stranded alive but died quickly afterwards, was found to have a stomach full of candy wrappers. 

Kermit’s current condition illustrates that it’s not easy being green as bits of plastic and latex balloon are a common finding in stranded sea turtles, especially green sea turtles who feed in the grass beds, and leatherback sea turtles who feed on jellyfish. “Obviously, the “green” solution is for people to take responsibility and prevent trash from ending up in the ocean,” said Mark Swingle, the Aquarium’s director of research and conservation.

The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program’s mission is to promote the conservation of marine animal species through stranding response, research, rehabilitation and education. 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.
 

Photo: Courtesy of Virginia Aquarium