By Jaynie L. Gaskin
Hospital staff at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center are very experienced in treating the seven species of sea turtles that occur in our coastal waters. But recently, one small patient caused quite a stir upon arrival at the hospital.
An Unexpected Arrival
When NOAA biologists called to confirm that eight critically endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles would be transferred to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, they had one additional request: could the Center also accept another cold‑stunned turtle needing long‑term care? This extra patient was a juvenile loggerhead from the New England Aquarium, measuring just 32 cm (13 inches)—a true “pocket logger,” as sea turtle folks like to say.
The Center was able to accommodate the additional turtle, and the rehabilitation team prepared a ninth tank, carefully lowering the water temperature to match the turtle’s body temperature. Cold‑stunned sea turtles must be rewarmed gradually to prevent shock, and because this turtle was a different species, a separate tank was required.
Each turtle was placed in an individual banana box lined with beach towels and transported more than 1,000 miles from Boston, Massachusetts, to Jekyll Island. Their journey was made possible thanks to a private company that generously volunteered space on their jet. Upon arrival at the St. Simons Airport, GSTC staff carefully unloaded each box, checking the turtles and recording their temperatures before transport to the Center.
A Case of Mistaken Identity
After loading nine boxes into the GSTC turtle van, I noticed something amiss.
“Where is the loggerhead?” I asked. “These are all Kemp’s Ridleys.”
The pilots confirmed that all turtles had been unloaded, so the team began opening boxes again. Peering inside one, I spotted the missing turtle. “Oh—here they are,” I said softly. “This little loggerhead looks so much like the others, I must have counted them as just another Kemp’s.”
Once all patients were accounted for, we departed for the Turtle Center. “It’s been a long time since I misidentified a sea turtle,” I admitted to hospital manager Rachel Overmeyer. “That little guy really fooled me with their round shell and small head.”
Meet Earl Grey
After arriving at the Center, each turtle received a brief exam before being placed in water to rest overnight. Staff couldn’t help noticing that the young loggerhead displayed a curious mix of physical traits usually associated with two different species. The team quickly gave the turtle a fitting nickname: Earl Grey, after the blended black tea.
Over the next several days, veterinary staff performed full physical exams, bloodwork, and X‑rays to assess the health of all nine patients. Thanks to the Center’s new PA system, visitors in the Learning Center were able to listen as the hospital team evaluated Earl Grey in real time.
A Curious Combination
As the veterinarian examined Earl Grey, he pointed out several unusual features. A sharp hooked tip at the front of the beak is typically found on Kemp’s Ridley turtles, not loggerheads. The shell raised even more questions. Loggerheads usually have heart‑shaped carapaces, while Kemp’s Ridleys have round shells. Earl Grey’s carapace appeared unusually round, with ridges more characteristic of a Kemp’s.
With staff curiosity officially piqued, a small blood sample was sent to the University of Georgia for genetic testing.
Recovery, Discovery, and Release
Just as rehabilitation was nearing completion, the genetic test results arrived. Earl Grey was confirmed to be a first‑generation hybrid—with a loggerhead father and a Kemp’s Ridley mother—the first hybrid sea turtle ever treated at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.
Spunky, curious, and always hungry, Earl Grey is now on track for release this summer, marking both a successful recovery and an exciting scientific discovery for the Center.
Support Sea Turtle Rehabilitation and Conservation
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s rehabilitation, research, and education efforts are made possible through the generous support of donors through the Jekyll Island Foundation. Contributions help provide lifesaving medical care for injured and ill sea turtles like Earl Grey and support conservation initiatives that protect sea turtles and their habitats for future generations.
Click HERE to support the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and make a donation today.
