Helping Sea Turtles Injured In The Gulf Oil Spill
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010With the disastrous effects of the Gulf Oil Spill, I’m sure many are wondering the effects it’s having on wildlife. Dr. Terry M. Norton and Amanda Noble, of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, recently co-wrote a published article about the effects of the Gulf Oil Spill on sea turtles. Here are some of their findings.
“Why is oil crude?”
The nature of the hydrocarbons – the design the hydrogen atoms form around the carbon atoms – is elementary. It can also be quite crude (rough) when it comes in contact with currently living creatures. For instance, sea turtles can become ill from ingestion or inhalation of such oil. To living organisms, crude oil is toxic.
As of July 31st, 815 sea turtles have been found dead, ill or oiled in the Gulf since the oil spill. Of those alive, 253 were visibly oiled, and 61 were not visibly oiled. Of the dead, 17 were visibly oiled, 82 were not oiled, 402 cases were “pending.” Thirty-three of total had been released at that time. These numbers obviously change on a daily basis.
So what is being done about the oiled turtles?
Conservation biologists and veterinarians have been traveling (by boat) to the Sargassum weed line to retrieve turtles. This involves actively searching for turtles and using a dip net to capture them. Once a turtle is brought on board it receives a light cleaning and then is placed in a cool quiet area for transport to a rehabilitation facility.
Burning the oil off of the surface has been one of the techniques utilized to remove some of the oil. Unfortunately, the process can harm wildlife – such as turtles – residing in the oiled Sargassum. This was found to be the case by our colleagues involved in rescuing the turtles. Some environmental organizations have promoted awareness of the potential for sea turtles to become trapped within systematic burnings of oiled ocean water. These areas are known as “burn boxes.”
What’s the procedure for rescuing injured sea turtles?
The capture, transport, and intake process is extremely stressful and an oiled animal’s condition may be very unstable. A veterinarian or animal care specialist conducts an initial examination and identifies conditions that are considered to be life-threatening.
Turtles are weighed and measured at the beginning of the process so that drug dosages can be calculated immediately. All turtles receive a temporary flipper band (zip tie with a number on it) and eventually a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag inserted under the skin once the turtle is deemed stable. It is very important for each turtle to have at least two forms of identification so it can be treated and monitored throughout its stay at the center. For legal purposes, an oil sample is taken from the turtle along with a digital photograph of the oiled animal with the stranding reference number in the picture.
At this time, a more complete examination is conducted. The degree and nature of oil contamination is observed and recorded. Hyperthermia or over heating is a significant concern, thus a body temperature is measured. An over heated turtle is treated by placing it in cool (not cold or iced) water, fluid therapy, and potentially other medical intervention. A heart rate is obtained with an ultrasonic Doppler probe. The eyes and oral cavity commonly contain oil, thus are examined carefully.
If the turtle is deemed stable, the next step will be to clean the oil off of it. However, if the turtle is deemed compromised based on the physical exam and blood work, supportive fluids, glucose, calcium and ophthalmic medications may be administered prior to washing. The de-oiling process is very similar to the techniques developed for birds, with one key exception – cooler water temperatures (not to exceed 80-85°F) are used. Liquid detergent (Dawn® is a commonly used product) is effective for removing oil from the shell and skin on most parts of the body. Interestingly, mayonnaise and vegetable oil are used to remove oil from the eyes and mouth. Mayonnaise is placed in the eyes prior to cleaning with Dawn. Soft scrub brushes, toothbrushes, cotton swabs, and gauze are all helpful tools for removing oil. The turtle is rinsed with fresh water several times to assure no detergent remains after the cleaning process.
Article written by Dr. Terry M. Norton and Amanda Noble
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