Injured turtle? Coast Guard to the rescue!
For more than 220 years, the Coast Guard has been known as this country’s premier life saving service. We are best known for saving human lives but from time-to-time, we come to the rescue of aquatic life needing immediate medical attention.
On Dec. 13, 2010, Coast Guard Station Galveston was requested to assist the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Galveston laboratory in rescuing a green turtle.
Ben Higgins, the NOAA sea turtle program manager in Galveston, explained that the Coast Guard has assisted with turtle rescue efforts in the past.
“We don’t have the capability to get on scene as quick as the Coast Guard. As soon we called the Coast Guard they assisted us. I don’t know what we would do with them,” said Higgins.
Initially, a good Samaritan aboard a tugboat anchored in the Houston Ship Channel called the turtle rescue hotline and reported seeing an injured turtle floating in the ship channel. That’s when NOAA requested Coast Guard Station Galveston’s assistance, said Higgins.
A 25-foot Response Boat-Small was launched from Station Galveston to the vicinity of the Pelican Island small boat cut, within the Houston Ship Channel. When the Coast Guard crew arrived on scene they found an injured green turtle.
Master Chief Petty Officer Robert Milmoe, officer in charge of Coast Guard Station Galveston, was the coxswain aboard the small boat that was launched to rescue the turtle.
“The crew from the towing vessel was in contact with Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston,” said Milmoe. “The small boat I was on diverted from patrol and headed toward Pelican Cut. The towing vessel crew had the turtle wrapped in a blanket and handed the turtle over to us,” he said.
Once the turtle was aboard the Coast Guard small boat, it was then transported back to Station Galveston to awaiting NOAA personnel.
The turtle was observed to have an approximately 8-inch long crack on the top of its shell, most likely due to impact with a boat, said Higgins. Upon arriving back to Station Galveston, small boat coxswain, Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Rolf, the on-duty officer-of-the-day, assisted with reviving the turtle.
“Once the turtle arrived at the station, we wrapped it in blanket and put it next to a heater until the NOAA personnel said it was ready for transport,” said Rolf.
Once the turtle was handed over to NOAA, it was taken back to the Galveston laboratory for observation and rehabilitation. It was determined that the turtle needed further treatment, so the NOAA staff implored the help of Dr. Joe Flannigan from the Houston Zoo.
Dr. Flannigan cleaned the shell and used pieces of metal flashing and 5-minute epoxy to create a double splint in an effort to mend the shell.
“The double splint is made out of simple materials,” said Higgins. “Our hope is that this splint will stabilize the shell and aide in mending. It will stay on until it naturally falls off,” he said.
Thus far, the rehabilitation effort has been a great success. As of early January 2011, the injured green turtle is healing nicely. Higgins anticipates the turtle being released in late spring 2011.
“Animals are absolutely amazing in terms of healing themselves,” said Higgins.
Story and photograph by Petty Officer 2nd Class Renee C. Aiello
Explore posts in the same categories: Station GalvestonTags: Ben Higgins, NOAA, PA2 Renee C. Aiello, Station Galveston, turtle, turtle rescue
You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.
