South Carolina Aquarium on Charleston Harbor ~ Sea Turtle Rescue Program

Sea Turtle Summer at the South Carolina Aquarium

South Carolina Aquarium ~ Sea Turtle Summer

Thanks to Our Partners:
-	SC Dept. of Natural Resources >>
-	University of Charleston
-	National Institute of Standards & Technology, Hollings Marine Laboratory
-	National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
-	Medical University of South Carolina, Marine Biomedicine & Environmental Science Center
-	East Cooper Regional Medical Center
-	Roper Hospital
-	University of Georgia, CVM
-	North Carolina State University, CVM
-	Other rehabilitation facilities
-	SC Barrier Island Turtle Patrols
-	Photos thanks to Barbara Bergwerf

To help ensure that sea turtles have a future in our oceans, the South Carolina Aquarium uses its facilities to aid sick and injured sea turtles through its Sea Turtle Rescue Program. When an unhealthy sea turtle is found along the coast, it is brought to our Sea Turtle Hospital by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources where our staff and volunteers can begin to monitor and take care of it in our state-of-the-art facility.

Sea turtles arrive with a variety of problems, including bacterial and fungal infections, shock from being exposed to cold temperatures and gashes from boats and animal bites. Aquarium staff work with a local veterinarian to diagnose each turtle and provide treatments.

Animal care staff give IV fluids, antibiotics, vitamins and other medications to almost every turtle that is admitted. Critical care can involve blood transfusions for those that are severely anemic. Other treatments can include x-rays, ultrasounds and endoscopies. The average length of stay for a sea turtle in rehabilitation is 7-8 months.

When a turtle is deemed healthy enough to survive on its own it is brought to a local beach to be returned to the ocean, where it can rejoin the sea turtle population and help to create new sea turtles...

Featured Videos


The Aquarium held its first beach release on Edisto Island in April 2003. “Edisto Mama,” 270 pounds at release, was an adult female who was found floating in the surf. After 32 weeks of treatment, “Edisto Mama” was released into the wild to have another chance at producing offspring. Since that time, the Aquarium has successfully released over 20 rehabilitated sea turtles. One of these turtles, “Jetty”, was satellite-tagged as part of a South Carolina Marine Resources Institute project. You can watch Jetty’s release from the videos provided here.		If are experiencing problems viewing these videos, please download Flash Player 8 or contact your system administrator.

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	The Turtle Hospital Crew Thanks to a dedicated crew of staff and volunteers, the turtle hospital cares for more turtles each year. Left: the volunteer team, Center: Sea Turtle Rescue Program Coordinator, Kelly Thorvalson, Right: Aquarium Veterinarian, Dr. Shane Boylan

Currently in Hospital

Recently Released!

Sea Turtle Rescue Program

Click the turtle names for more detailed case information.

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"North Litchfield"
arrived: 4/29/2008

"Murrells Inlet"
arrived: 10/13/2007

"DeBordieu"
arrived: 7/31/2007

"Wadmalaw"
arrived: 7/11/2007

"Cape Romain"
released: 11/3/2007

"Lady Lisa"
released: 11/3/2007

"Edisto"
released: 10/13/2007

"Harbor Island"
released: 9/21/2007

"Little Edisto"
released: 9/21/2007

"Stingray"
released: 8/28/2007

"Folly"
released: 8/13/2007

"St. Simon"
released: 5/19/2007

"Lighthouse"
released: 5/19/2007

Learn more about our sea turtle rescue efforts. See photos of surgeries and get more case-by-case details from one of the Aquarium’s dedicated volunteers. See her website at: http://www.bergwerfgraphics.com

Hospital Headlines:

4/17/2008

A big THANK YOU to Melissa Blender and Ocean Classroom for donating towels to the turtle hospital. We must get ready for sea turtle season...lets wish for a healthy nesting season with few patients!

4/6/2008

The Sea Turtle Rescue Program is the friend of Earth Fare for April (in West Ashley). Shop at Earth Fare to support the rescue program and the environment and be sure to look for upcomining events!

2/6/2008

Turtle Hospital tours are now available on Saturdays at 1pm! Space is limited so make your reservations by calling 720-1990. Come out to see our sea turtle patients and a few other animals behind the scenes!

12/18/2007

Happy Holidays! Murrell, Wadmalaw and DeBordieu are still recuperating in the hospital. Come to visit them and the other critters being held in nearby tanks. Tours are Wed & Fri at 1pm. Call 720-1990 to reserve a spot!

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Sea Turtle Rescue Program
South Carolina Aquarium
100 Aquarium Wharf
Charleston, SC 29401
Email: turtlerescue@scaquarium.org

Stranded Turtle Hotline:

If you find a sick or injured sea turtle, contact the local police department or call the SC Department of Natural Resources hotline at 1-800-922-5431.

Turtle News

Lighthouse tracking Turtle Tracking
Keep up with the turtles after release and follow their adventures through the Atlantic. Now three recently released rehabilitated turtles have been tagged with satellite tracking devices. These devices will continue to help scientists researching the paths and behaviors of turtles thorough the ocean to give incite into where these Loggerheads are traveling. Check out our satellite tracking page to keep up with their current locations.
See the Turtle Tracks >>

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New Kids' Activities! : Loggerhead Activity Book
Download book here >>
(File download may take a moment)
Learn more about our state reptile with puzzles, games, word searches, coloring sheets and more in this educational activity book.

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Behind-the-Scenes Tours of the Sea Turtle Hospital
Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Sea Turtle Rescue Program: Turtle Hospital Venture behind the scenes and see firsthand the extraordinary care that is provided to sick and injured sea turtles at the Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital. You’ll meet the current “patients in residence,” and hear from staff and volunteers about the types of treatment and daily care that help to nurse them back to health. You’ll also hear case histories of some of the nearly 25 turtles that have successfully been released back into the wild. Plus, you’ll learn what you can do to help keep the local sea turtle population healthy.
Thirty-minute tours operate this season every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 1:00 p.m.; for advance tickets, call (843) 579-8600. Admission is $10 per adult, $5 for children (2-12). Reservations are recommended.

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Kids in Belton, SC Raise Funds for Sea Turtles

Kindergarten through third grade students in upstate Belton, South Carolina went crazy over loggerheads sea turtles this year. They studied the turtles in great detail, read and even wrote books about them, created sea turtle art and turtle hats, and raised money for the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program. Marshall Primary and Belton Elementary(3rd-6th grade) teachers involved in this project deemed March 30, 2007 "Save the Loggerhead Day" at their schools. The children in Marshall Primary School raised $1000 for the program through a book drive and by doing extra chores around their homes and the third graders from Belton Elementary School raised over $2300 for the program through a read-a-thon. Their efforts are incredible!