Queen!
Keep Tabs On Our biggest ever sea turtle!
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Queen!
KEEP TABS ON OUR BIGGEST EVER SEA TURTLE!
Make a Donation
Volunteer
Who is Queen?
Queen is a Female adult loggerhead sea turtle that stranded at Ho Hum Beach in Bellport, NY on July 31, 2021. With the support of our partners at Fire Island National Seashore, we were able to access the 300 lbs.+ animal and transported her back to our facility located in Riverhead, NY. An in-house physical was performed by our veterinarians and the animal was diagnosed with Debilitated Turtle Syndrome (DTS) which consists of malnutrition, starvation, fatigue and lethargy. DTS is often observed in older sea turtles especially loggerhead sea turtles and involves a lot of round the clock care and resources. Queen is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle that NYMRC has ever admitted for rehabilitation, and one of the largest sea turtles admitted within the Greater Atlantic Region Stranding Network (Maine-Virginia). With that said, this powerhouse animal needed the ultimate name…..QUEEN!
Who is Queen?
Queen is a Female adult loggerhead sea turtle that stranded at Ho Hum Beach in Bellport, NY on July 31, 2021. With the support of our partners at Fire Island National Seashore, we were able to access the 300 lbs.+ animal and transported her back to our facility located in Riverhead, NY. An in-house physical was performed by our veterinarians and the animal was diagnosed with Debilitated Turtle Syndrome (DTS) which consists of malnutrition, starvation, fatigue and lethargy. DTS is often observed in older sea turtles especially loggerhead sea turtles and involves a lot of round the clock care and resources. Queen is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle that NYMRC has ever admitted for rehabilitation, and one of the largest sea turtles admitted within the Greater Atlantic Region Stranding Network (Maine-Virginia). With that said, this powerhouse animal needed the ultimate name…..QUEEN!
Over the next two months, Queen was provided fluid therapy, vitamin supplements, and antibiotics by our animal care staff. During this time, Queen grew stronger and was moved from an indoor holding tub to a large outdoor tank where she was able to increase her diving capabilities and forage for live food. The animal care team worked around the clock ensuring that Queen was given the best care. Bi-weekly physicals were performed where blood samples were obtained, and measurement and weight were recorded. All this information gathered provides the team with further insight on how Queen was healing. Based on a routine physical peformed in late September, Queen was taken off antibitoics and was cleared for release by our senior veterinarian.
Over the next two months, Queen was provided fluid therapy, vitamin supplements, and antibiotics by our animal care staff. During this time, Queen grew stronger and was moved from an indoor holding tub to a large outdoor tank where she was able to increase her diving capabilities and forage for live food. The animal care team worked around the clock ensuring that Queen was given the best care. Bi-weekly physicals were performed where blood samples were obtained, and measurement and weight were recorded. All this information gathered provides the team with further insight on how Queen was healing. Based on a routine physical peformed in late September, Queen was taken off antibitoics and was cleared for release by our senior veterinarian.
On October 7, 2021, Queen was removed from her temporary home and prepared for release. Final measurements, photos and weight was obtained from Queen leaving us at a final weight of 388 lbs. In addtion, Queen recieved a PIT tag which is similar to a microchip and flipper tags were attached to her hind flippers. Both types of tags help with future identification of this animal if she were to be resighted. Lastly, Queen was equipped with a satallite tag by our Rescue Program Director Maxine Montello. This device allows for us to monitor the post-release behavior of our release candiates. The NYMRC team puts a lot of resources into each animal and information gathered from these tags can support the overall mission of NYMRC.
On October 7, 2021, Queen was removed from her temporary home and prepared for release. Final measurements, photos and weight was obtained from Queen leaving us at a final weight of 388 lbs. In addtion, Queen recieved a PIT tag which is similar to a microchip and flipper tags were attached to her hind flippers. Both types of tags help with future identification of this animal if she were to be resighted. Lastly, Queen was equipped with a satallite tag by our Rescue Program Director Maxine Montello. This device allows for us to monitor the post-release behavior of our release candiates. The NYMRC team puts a lot of resources into each animal and information gathered from these tags can support the overall mission of NYMRC.