Dr. Terry Norton, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s (GSTC) veterinarian, recently visited Barbados in the Caribbean to present a series of lectures on sea turtle veterinary care and disease issues. The conference was the 4th Pan Commonwealth Veterinary Conference. The Commonwealth Veterinary Association is a professional non-for-profit association supported by the Commonwealth Foundation. There are currently 53 member countries or territories.
The sea turtle session was sponsored by the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST). This organization has Country Coordinators in more than 40 Caribbean States and territories and has linked scientists, conservationists, resource managers, resource users, policy-makers, industry groups, educators, veterinary professionals, and other stakeholders in a collaborative effort to develop a unified management framework, and to promote a regional capacity to design and implement scientifically sound sea turtle management programs (K. Eckert, 2006).
Among the capacity building initiatives is WIDECAST’s regional Sea Turtle Trauma Response Corps (STTRC). The aim of the STTRC is to strengthen and coordinate the efforts of people throughout the Wider Caribbean Region to respond to sea turtles in crisis, whether at sea or stranded along shoreline. The initiative includes the development of a variety of standard guidelines and field procedures manuals, as well as standardized reporting forms and database management software.
In addition to peer-reviewed guidelines, Internet-based resources, information management software, and other technical products, the STTRC provides regular training and internship opportunities for field staff and volunteers, natural resource managers, veterinarians, and rehabilitators. Recently a manual was developed entitled Marine Turtle Trauma Response Procedures: A field Guide, 2006, http://www.widecast.og/trauma). Dr. Norton’s first presentation was an overview of the field guide contents and how Caribbean veterinarians can be involved in first response initiatives for stranded sea turtles. Other presentations by Dr. Norton included “Pertinent Anesthesia and Surgery in Sea Turtles”, “Necropsy Techniques in Sea Turtles”, and “Managing a Sea Turtle Mass Mortality Event”. Other speakers and topics presented included “Sea Turtle Strandings in Barbados” by Barry Kruger and Gus Reader, “Sea Turtle Trauma Response Corps An Overview” by Kimberley Stewart, “Rehabilitation of Sea Turtles” and “Fibropapillomatosis in Sea Turtles” by Charles Manire.
Another objective of the visit was to evaluate some green turtles that have been habituated to hand feeding pieces of fish to attract tourists. Unfortunately, the turtles have become obese. Some solutions and compromises were discussed with local sea turtle conservationists such as feeding more appropriate vegetarian treats such as squash. Future trips may involve evaluating the health status of the habituated turtles and their wild counterparts that are feeding predominantly on sea grasses.
