| That was then (inset, 1992) and this is the last time we saw her (1995). 52K JPEG | |||||||
| Quickstats: Seen 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995. | Summer updates: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004. | |||||||
| That was then (inset, 1992) and this is the last time we saw her (1995). 52K JPEG | |||||||
| Quickstats: Seen 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995. | Summer updates: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004. | |||||||
We first met Barney in in 1992. She was a juvenile back then and was easy to identify because of the numerous barnacles on her carapace and plastron. That is also how she got her name. For whatever reason, she remained cautious and suspicious of us throughout the years.
She had a comfort distance that never varied. She was one of the few turtles who never quite acclimated, never quite trusted our presence or our intentions. Each summer we would get our left and right profile shots of her and give her peace after that.
Our 1992 video shows that Barney had just the slightest hint of fibropapilloma disease in the posterior of both eyes. By 1993, the eye tumors had changed little but she was showing salt and pepper along her neck and shoulders.
Things took a serious turn for the worse in 94. Both eye tumors had grown in size and she was burdened with several small tumors along her neck and around both armpits. Curiously, three of her four plastron barnacles had fallen off. Only the largest one remained, and it appeared inert.
The sad apparation we saw at The Graveyard in 1995 saddened us. What a difference 10 months can make in the course of the disease! We saw her three or four times that year and always at the same place--a depression where seaweed collects in about 15 feet of water.
By then we had come to expect any turtle resting in this area not to be around the next year, hence the name The Graveyard. Barney's shell was heavily algae-coated, suggesting that she spent no time at the Turtle House anymore. A large new tumor grew in the right corner of her mouth.
The previous year's tumors had now enlarged to a point where it interfered with swimming and had weakened her. In fact, Barney was lethargic and when she swam her state of emaciation was particularly obvious.
We didn't see Barney in the 120 dives we made in the summer of 1996. We now add her to our growing list of fibropapilloma casualties.
Barney was not seen in 1997. We think Barney is dead.
Barney was not seen in 1998.
Barney was not seen in 1999.
Barney was not seen in 2000.
Barney was not seen in 2001.
Barney was not seen in 2002.
Barney was not seen in 2003.
Barney was not seen in 2004.
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1993 Turtle 8D | ||||
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Who's Who Underwater at Honokowai | ||||
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Table of Contents | ||||
