POKEY SAVES THE DAY: Blood drawn from rare turtle at Marineland used to help another rescued turtle

The rescued turtle is recovering, thanks to Pokey.

  • By Observer Staff
  • | 3:23 p.m. January 19, 2017
Pokey, Marineland Dolphin Adventure's resident Kemp's ridley turtle, has blood drawn to provide a blood transfusion to a rescued and ill Kemp's ridley at Marine Science Center. (Photos courtesy of Marineland Dolphin Adventure)
Pokey, Marineland Dolphin Adventure's resident Kemp's ridley turtle, has blood drawn to provide a blood transfusion to a rescued and ill Kemp's ridley at Marine Science Center. (Photos courtesy of Marineland Dolphin Adventure)
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This past weekend, staff from Marineland Dolphin Adventure were able to assist the Marine Science Center in the aid and treatment of a rescued Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) with a blood transfusion. The blood was provided by Marineland’s resident Kemp’s ridley turtle, Pokey.

This is the first time Pokey has been a blood donor for a transfusion. In the past, Marineland has used its loggerhead turtle, Rocky, for blood donations for other turtles.

The rescued Kemp’s ridley turtle had a bacterial pneumonia causing respiratory bleeding. It's still in recovery, and the staff caring for it at the Marine Science Center are guardedly optimistic.

Pokey came to Marineland Dolphin Adventure in October 2015 and was hatched on July 18, 1984, at another zoological facility.

 

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