MTN 61:6-7 Care and Treatment of Loggerhead Sea Turtles from the Gulf of Naples, Italy

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Care and Treatment of Loggerhead Sea Turtles from the Gulf of Naples, Italy

Flegra Bentivegna, Paola Cirino and Alfonso Toscano
Stazione Zoologica "Anton Dohrn", Villa Comunale I, 80121 Naples, Italy

The loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, a cosmopolitan species, reproduces in Mediterranean waters. It is the most common sea turtle in Italy and the only species that deposits eggs on Italian beaches. Unfortunately, the loggerhead is endangered because of the progressive reduction in areas suitable for nesting and because of an increase in incidental catch. This situation has prompted a series of legal measures designed to protect the turtle. A law passed on 21 May 1980 forbids the capture, transport, housing, and trade of loggerhead turtles. Turtles obtained illegally are being confiscated by enforcement officials and sent to the Naples Aquarium. Therefore, the Naples Aquarium has become the leading site in Italy for the study and care of sea turtles. We have initiated a system whereby these animals are returned to their natural habitat after a short time in captivity, in keeping with the policy established by international groups dedicated to the study of wild populations of sea turtles.

In parallel with the program of receiving and, when necessary, treating the turtles, we have also undertaken a project to (i) increase public awareness of the threats to sea turtles, (ii) inform the public of our efforts on behalf of sea turtles, and (iii) share information regarding our program. The first result of our Conservation Education Project has been that local fishermen and private citizens now bring turtles to the Naples Aquarium. Many of these turtles suffer from stress caused by heavy sea traffic or pollution and some have been wounded by fishing equipment. We not only provide medical treatment for these animals, but we have devised special rehabilitation programs. While we are still lacking basic information on sea turtle biology, the Aquarium has had ten years of experience in sea turtle maintenance. The scientific staff of the Faculty of Veterinary Surgery of the University of Naples also provides assistance.

From 1984 to the present, the Naples Aquarium has acquired 30 loggerhead turtles. These individuals were all juveniles; only one was longer than 70 cm shell length and none were smaller than 20 cm. Incidental capture of sea turtles is mainly due to commercial fishing. Most animals are caught in drift nets. Very few are captured in trawls. The animals caught in nets are usually only slightly damaged, while those captured by hooks rarely survive. This is because the hooks are large (7-9 cm) and after swallowing they become lodged in the esophagus where they are difficult to remove. One turtle that swallowed an 8.5-cm hook was brought to us for treatment. It was given general anesthesia with ketamin (10 mg/kg) before surgery. A local anesthetic (lidocaine 2%) was also used because the turtle still maintained some sensitivity. A lateral cut of 6-7 cm was made to expose the affected region of the esophagus. Upon finding the hook, it was broken in two; one part was removed via the incision and the other was removed via the mouth. The procedure lasted for one hour. The wound was closed and the turtle was kept warm at room temperature while covered in cloth soaked in heated sea water for several hours. The turtle was then placed in a tank containing only a few centimeters of water. Antibiotics were prescribed because of respiratory distress not caused by the operation. The turtle began feeding in five days.

Respiratory problems are common and are treated with either ampicillin or gentamicin. One of the other most frequent disorders we come across is keratoconjunctivitis, probably caused by pollution. Treatment consists of the administration of ophthalmic salves. In cases where the turtle appears sick or underweight, amino acid solutions enriched with vitamins are administered. Commensal organisms, such as lepadomorph (Lepas sp.) and balanomorph (Chelonibia testudinaria) barnacles are often found. Only one case of a tanaid (Hexapleomera robustus) has been noted; large numbers were founded in the galleries between the plates of the carapace of a very weak turtle.

We have also seen damage to the carapace or plastron caused by boat propellers, particularly during the summer when boat activity increases. One turtle with its carapace broken was repaired with acrylic resin. The turtle was returned to a tank one hour later and began feeding the next day. Another turtle was found dying on a beach with a broken plastron. We sutured the wound with surgical stitching and the animal began feeding in 15 days; in 30 days, the wound had healed and the animal was released. Released turtles are tagged. Our tagging methods follow the guidelines of the Sea Turtle Mediterranean Project, as well as the later guidelines provided by the Progetto Nazionale Tartarughe coordinated by Dr. Argano of the University of Rome. After rehabilitation, all turtles are released southeast of Sicily in the spring because of the reduction of beach sites suitable for egg-laying in the Gulf of Naples.

This paper was designed to provide encouragement regarding the successful medical treatment of injured or unhealthy sea turtles, and to convey the importance of the Gulf of Naples to the maintenance of loggerheads in the Mediterranean Sea. The Naples Aquarium is fortunate in having a facility near the sea for expedient maintenance and/or treatment of sea turtles and looks forward to playing an active role in ensuring that areas of the Gulf of Naples become protected sites for these animals.