Atlantis

A project of .

click map for full-size version Follow Atlantis

Full-Size Map (16KB)

Species: Loggerhead
Life Stage: Juvenile
Gender: Unknown
Release Date: 2008-06-30 16:00:00
Release Location: Virginia
Last Location: 2009-02-13 01:22:00

Adoptive Parents:
Cassie Catizone

Background

Atlantis, the loggerhead, stranded on October 14, 2007 in Cape May Point, New Jersey. S/he spent four days at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in New Jersey before being transferred to the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team on October 19th.
Atlantis entered rehab with signs of neurological problems and a digital x-ray revealed a slight fracture to the skull. Atlantis made a quick recovery but suddenly relapsed in December. Atlantis stopped eating, became buoyant, stopped using her/his front flippers and appeared almost comatose. Atlantis' prognosis became grave.
But the staff refused to give up. All avenues were explored through many volunteers including a neurological veterinarian, actupuncturists and massage therapists. S/he recieved daily physical therapy, nutritional supplementation and oxygen therapy. Atlantis finally started to come around and by the end of March, 2008, was out of her/his lifejacket and eating once again.
Atlantis was released into the Chesapeake Bay with a satellite transmitter on June 30, 2008 from Virginia Beach, VA.
A big Thank You to the following: Dr. Back and Beach Pet Hospital; Dr. Lord and Dr. Lessinger of the Animal Clinic and Wellness Center of Williamsburg; Dr. Katherman - Veterinary Neurologist; Elliot Basset - Massage Therapist; the cooperative efforts of the North East Region Stranding Network especially Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC-NJ), Riverhead Foundation, NY and Delaware Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute (MERR); and of course seaturtle.org.