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Back to the Ocean 2020

Presentation of the 8 sea turtles

During the winter period, weather conditions lead to increased strandings of marine turtles.
From Seignosse (40) to Lège Cap Ferret (33), the Centre d'Etudes et de Soins pour les Tortues Marines (C.E.S.T.M.) of the Aquarium La Rochelle, with the help of the members of the Réseau Tortues Marines Atlantique Est (RTMAE), which it coordinates and leads, rescued 8 marine turtles that found their way back into the ocean on 23 June 2020.

Kawaï

The first resident of this stranding season arrived at the CESTM on 18 June 2019, after being captured accidentally off Saint-Jean-de-Luz (64). She weighed 2.468 kg and measured 24.5 cm on arrival.

Her state of health at the time did not allow her to return to the ocean on 4 July 2019, along with her congeners treated at the CESTM the same year. She will return to her natural environment in the summer of 2020, if her health remains optimal.

 

© Copyright Océane Cottier_Aquarium La Rochelle SAS

Turtle Information

Characteristics Intervention
Spicies: Loggerhead turtle Found on: 18 june 2019
Weight: 8,220 kg* (2,468 kg on arrival) Where: Near Saint Jean de Luz
Dimensions: Straight length of carapace: 37 cm* (24.5 cm on arrival) By: The municipal technical services of the town hall of Cepbreton.
Care: Rehydration, antibiotics, calcium intake.

Ki

This loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) was found stranded on a beach in Lège Cap Ferret (33) by the municipal technical services. On arrival, the juvenile individual weighed 776 g and measured 16.6 cm in straight carapace length.

Like all turtles found stranded on our coasts at this time, it was suffering from hypothermia, dehydration and had deficiencies, particularly in calcium.

 

 

© Copyright Océane Cottier_Aquarium La Rochelle SAS

Turtle information

Characteristics Intervention
Spicies: Loggerhead turtle Found on: 13 December 2019
Weight: 1.630 kg* (0.776 kg on arrival) Where? Lège Cap Ferret (33)
Dimensions: Straight length of carapace: 20.8 cm* (16.6 cm on arrival)
By: Municipal services of Lège Cap Ferret and RTMAE correspondent
Care: Rehydration, warming and calcium intake.

Kiribati

This turtle was found on 15 December 2019 by a pedestrian on the beach at Seignosse (40). It weighed 694 g and measured 16.4 cm of straight carapace length. In addition to the signs of weakness common to turtles stranded on our coasts at that time, X-rays showed the presence of opaque material in its digestive tract. These turned out to be sand and shell debris (material found in the animal’s faeces).

 

 

© Copyright Océane Cottier_Aquarium La Rochelle SAS

Turtle information

Characteristics Intervention
Spicies: Loggerhead turtle Found on: 15 December 2019
Weight : 1,694 kg* (0,694 kg at its arrival) Where: Seignosse (40)
Dimensions: Straight length of carapace: 21.4 cm* (16.4 kg on arrival) By: A pedestrian and RTMAE correspondent
Care: Rehydration, warming and calcium intake.

Kemen

On Christmas Eve 2019, a member of the Office National des Forêts observed a turtle stranded on a beach in Mimizan (40). Its evacuation was made difficult in particular because of the tide times, the high coefficients and the location of the stranding. The left front leg of this sub-adult individual weighing 41.6 kg and 70.5 cm of right carapace length was mutilated.

It required surgery on 17 February 2020 to limit the risk of infection, and remains under close surveillance at present.

 

© Copyright Océane Cottier_Aquarium La Rochelle SAS

Turtle information

Characteristics Intervention
Spicies: Loggerhead turtle Found on: 24 December 2019
Weight : 62,350 kg* (41,650 kg on arrival) Where? in Mimizan (40)
Dimensions : Straight length of carapace: 72.3 cm* (70.5 kg on arrival) By: Office National des Forêts, Gendarmerie des Landes, Sapeurs Pompiers de Paris
Care: Lethargy, hypothermia, calcium deficiency, dehydration

Kempi

On 31 December 2019, a professional fisherman recovered a juvenile turtle drifting at sea near the coast of Lège Cap Ferret (33). This individual weighed 2.352 kg and measured 25 cm in straight carapace length.

The animal presented the usual symptoms of a turtle of this species present on our coasts at this period, namely hypothermia, dehydration and several types of deficiency.

© Copyright Océane Cottier_Aquarium La Rochelle SAS

Turtle information

Characteristics Intervention
Spicies: Kemp's turtle Where ? in Lège Cap Ferret (33)
Weight : 3,308 kg* (2,352 kg at its arrival) Found on : 31 December 2019
Dimensions : Straight carapace length: 27.9 cm* (25 cm on arrival) By: Fisherman and RTMAE correspondent
Care: Rehydration, warming and calcium intake.

Kercambre

On Saturday 15 February 2020, a very weakened individual was observed stranded by the Harbour Master’s Office of the Port de Saint Jacques, a commune of Sarzeau, (56). Its right front leg was sectioned but correctly healed.

This animal, weighing 19.8 kg and with a right carapace length of 55.3 cm, expelled plastic material 9 days after its arrival.

 

 

© Copyright Océane Cottier_Aquarium La Rochelle SAS

Turtle information

Characteristics Intervention
Spicies: Loggerhead turtle Where? in Saint Gildas de Rhuys (56)
Weight: 23,200 kg* (19,800 kg on arrival) Found on: 15 February 2020
Dimensions : Straight length of carapace: 53 cm*. By: Harbour master's office of Saint Jacques, technical services of Sarzeau and Océarium du Croisic
Care: Rehydration, warming, calcium intake and local care.

Kawan

This loggerhead turtle was welcomed on 22 February 2020. She washed up in Les Sables d’Olonne (85), on the Tanchets beach and transited through the Aquarium of Talmont Saint-Hilaire, where she had been dropped off by a pedestrian.

On arrival, it weighed 1.016 kg and measured 19 cm in straight carapace length.

 

© Copyright Océane Cottier_Aquarium La Rochelle SAS

Turtle information

Characteristics Intervention
Spicies: Loggerhead turtle Found on: 22 February 2020
Weight: 1,878 kg* (1,016 kg on arrival) Where: Aux Sables d'Olonne (85)
Dimensions: Straight length of carapace: 21.7 cm* (19 cm on arrival) By: The municipal technical services of Cepbreton town hall.
Care: Rehydration, rewarming, calcium intake.

Kirikou

In Tarnos (40), on 7 March 2020, on the Métro beach, a loggerhead turtle weighing 1.054 kg and 18.5 cm in right-hand carapace length was found by a pedestrian.

It was taken in charge by the Hegalaldia Association (departmental association for the safeguarding of wildlife) before being repatriated to the Aquarium.

 

© Copyright Océane Cottier_Aquarium La Rochelle SAS

Turtle information

Characteristics Intervention
Spicies: Loggerhead turtle Where? in Tarnos (40)
Weight: 8,220 kg* (2,468 kg on arrival) Found on: 7 March 2020
Dimensions: Straight carapace length: 37 cm* (24.5 cm on arrival) By: Pedestrian, Hegalaldia association, RTMAE correspondents, LPO Aquitaine.
Care: Rehydration, warming and calcium intake.

If you observe a stranded turtle:

Contact the Aquarium La Rochelle immediately on +33 (0)5 46 34 00 00.

The Centre d’Etudes et de Soins pour les Tortues Marines (CESTM) and the volunteers of the Réseau Tortues Marines Atlantique Est (RTMAE) will take care of the individuals immediately.

Important: Sea turtles are protected species: do not touch them or try to return them to the sea.

Thank you all for your vigilance!

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