1993 Turtle 11

That was then (inset, 1993) and this is the last time we saw her (1995).

73K JPEG

Quickstats: Seen 1993, 1994, 1995.

Summer updates: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004.

This turtle was first seen in 1993 and we have seen her each summer since then. We have not, however, given her a name yet. Turtle 93-11 was seen almost daily in the summer of 1993. We did not record her as having tumors that year. Her eyes seemed clear and we did not see signs of disease, but this might simply reflect the fact that we never got really close to this animal.

When a resident turtle is assigned only a number, it indicates that the animal has a comfort distance. If you approach too closely, she will leave. It doesn't take long to learn which animals prefer that you keep your distance. 93-11 was like that.

The 1993 video insert of her right profile gave no hint of what she would look like just 11 months later. In 1994, both eyes were clogged with tumors. Her neck and throat contained masses of tumors as well. Such explosive growth is difficult to explain.

In 1995 we saw her again. Just when you think a turtle couldn't hold any more tumors, nature proves you wrong. Tumors continued to grow in both size and number.

Worse, she had become entangled in fishing line that wound among the tumors on her shoulder so that when she swam, the downstroke of her right flipper would make the three strands entangled there tighten around the tumors. If you look closely at the JPEG of this turtle, you can make out what looks like a hair on the picture. Look at the area directly beneath the insert. That is not a hair, it is monofilament line.

The sight of this afflicted turtle still haunts us.