“[She was] weak, disoriented and in critical condition …”
Last summer, a boater off the Florida coast noticed a loggerhead sea turtle in alarming condition. Her body was heavily coated with algae and barnacles, and she appeared to be struggling just to stay afloat. Worried for the animal’s life, the boater contacted rescuer Tabitha Siegfried.
Siegfried quickly gathered a few volunteers, headed out by boat, and found the turtle exactly where she had been reported. One look made it clear the situation was serious.
The turtle was extremely weak, confused, and close to death.
Without hesitation, Siegfried jumped into the water and carefully lifted the turtle to safety. The animal was so exhausted that she offered almost no resistance.
After bringing her back to the rescue center, Siegfried named her Syrena. Staff soon determined that she was suffering from debilitated turtle syndrome, often called DTS. The condition does not have one single known cause, but Syrena showed many of the common warning signs, including severe weight loss and a badly compromised shell.
Siegfried knew recovery would be difficult. Of the turtles she had treated for DTS before, only about a quarter had survived. Even so, she was determined to give Syrena every possible chance.
Her treatment was intense from the start. Syrena received fluids, vitamins, antibiotics, and constant care. Little by little, her strength began to return. She eventually started eating solid food again and slowly put on weight.
As she improved, her rescuers saw just how strong and determined she really was.
Once she was healthy enough, it was time to remove the thick layer of barnacles covering her shell. A few barnacles on a sea turtle can be normal, but being overwhelmed by them is often a sign of serious illness and can further damage the shell. As the buildup was removed, Syrena seemed visibly more comfortable.
After 92 days of dedicated care, Syrena had made a full turnaround.
The turtle who had once seemed barely alive now looked completely different — strong, alert, and ready to go home. When the time came, Siegfried and the volunteers returned her to the water and watched as she made her way back into the Gulf with energy and confidence.