Little Turtle Makes Big Splash
A tiny loggerhead sea turtle made a big splash at
the Aquarium. Its shell and skin are various shades
of white, rather than the normal dark brown and
gray. Visitors can see the white loggerhead now
with other hatchlings in the Loggerhead Odyssey
exhibit.
“The Aquarium is extraordinarily fortunate to
be able to care for such a rare animal,” said Hus
bandry Curator Brian Dorn. “We are excited and
hopeful that this little loggerhead lives a long and
happy life. The tiny turtle will be a big boost in
furthering educational efforts about sea turtles.
When a rarity like this presents itself, it allows us
to magnify our conservation message for these
amazing ocean reptiles.” he said.
The loggerhead s unusual coloring is a rare
genetic alteration similar to albinism. The turtle
is not a true albino, which means an animal that
lacks all pigment. The turtle has some variations
in shading and has dark eyes instead of the trade
mark pink or red eyes found in albinos.
Young sea turtles spend the first two to three
years of their lives in mats of sargassum seaweed
far offshore, so the rate of occurrence for the
turtle’s condition is unknown. However, sea turtles
that lack normal coloring likely do not survive
long in the wild. They are more vulnerable to
predators without their natural camouflage and
often have other genetic abnormalities.
After a month of sorting through hundreds of
suggestions, the aquarium has named this white
sea turtle hatchling Nimbus. Aquarium staff said
the name, which means a radiant light or a shining
cloud, is fitting for the tiny loggerhead for reasons
in addition to its rare pale coloring. The turtle has
become a beacon for heightened public interest in
sea turtles, which can help advance conservation
efforts. The five sea turtle species that frequent
North Carolina waters are considered endangered
or threatened.
The turtle was brought to the Aquarium for care
on August 11. Volunteers working with the N.C.
Wildlife Resources Commission found the turtle
when they excavated a nest on a Pine Knoll Shores
beach. Because loggerheads are a threatened spe
cies, the WildUfe Resources Commission and a
network of trained volunteers monitor nests and
check for weak hatchlings left behind.
Sea turtles lay 80 to 130 eggs per nest, buried
deep in the beach sand. The eggs in a nest typically
hatch almost simultaneously. The babies then col
lectively claw their way to the surface and dash to
the ocean. Those at the bottom or others that miss
out on the group effort for some reason face an
almost impossible task without intervention. Each
year, the aquarium cares for several hatchlings
from excavated nests until they are strong enough
to be released.
“Had the white baby managed to dig itself out,
it would have met daunting challenges in the wild.
Predators on the beach and in the sea could more
easily spy a white hatchling. Its pale'skin also would
make it more susceptible to the harmful effects of
the suns rays,” said Dr. Eric Anderson, a zoologi
cal medicine resident with the NC State University
College of Veterinary Medicine, which provides
medical services for the aquariums animals.
The hatchling also has a cleft palate and a mal
formed beak. Dr. Anderson said no hfe-threaten-
ing conditions have been diagnosed,, but more
deformities might become apparent as the logger
head grows. “With these animals, when you find
one genetic or developmental abnormality, often
there are other abnormalities as well,” he said. Be
cause of its known conditions and the potential for
more, its future is difficult to predict—even with
the aquarium’s care and medical attention. “It’s
going to be a long road, but we are hopeful that it
will do well,” he said.
The turtle has overcome some of its obvious
problems, said Michele Lamping, an aquarist who
cares for the white turtle and other hatchlings. It
initially had to be coaxed into eating its rations of
mysis shrimp, possibly because of the cleft palate.
“Now it’s eating on its own,” she said, “just a little
slower than the others. It takes it a little longer to
swallow.”
It also struggled to surface for air during its
first attempt at swimming, but has since mastered
the skill. Sea turtles spend their entire lives in the
water, except for those few minutes after hatching
and when females come ashore to nest. The white
hatchling’s gender has not been determined.
Since arrival, it grew from its initial 16 grams—a
little more than a half an ounce—to about 28
grams. The hatchling was smaller than average on
arrival and its growth rate lags about 50 percent
behind that of other rescued hatchlings its age.
“Still, its growth is an encouraging sign,” Larhp-
ing said. The hatchling is energetic and active. “It’s
holding its own. Despite its many disabilities, it is
strong and continues to surprise us every day. You
can watch Nimbus swimming and resting in the
hatchling exhibit in the Tidal Waters Gallery.”
A monthly report
by Town Manager
Brian Kramer on
events in town.
Pine Knoll Shores & Atlantic Beach Water System
Connection Put to Test.
As you may recall from last year, Pine Knoll Shores
and Atlantic Beach agreed to physically connect our
water systems. This is a good back-up for us and offers
both towns some assurance of water availability should
something happen that would cause us to shut down
our wells temporarily. During the week of February 7,
this connection was put to use. We provided Atlantic
Beach with just over half-a-million gallons of water
while they conducted maintenance on their system.
Providing Incentives to Recycle.
We are looking at ways to encourage our property
owners to recycle more. Last month, we took a ride to
the recycling plant near Raleigh to observe how mate
rial we recycle is actually separated and processed. So
allow me to use this opportunity to assure everyone
that the material you leave out for recycling twice a
month is in fact being recycled. We are now trying to
figure out how to get folks to recycle more.
Mimosa Bridge Update.
Engineers have completed the environmental impact
document. It is awaiting Department of Transporta
tion (DOT) approval. Once this approval is granted,
we will move on to the full design phase. A reminder
to aU that you may view the 20% design illustration at
the town Web site at vww.townofpks.com/documents/
Miscellaneous/Mimosa%20Bridge%20exhibit.PDF
Formation of the PKS Pedestrian Task Force.
Last year. Pine Knoll Shores adopted a Pedestrian
Master Plan. This is the document that outlines a plan
to have a sidewalk system someday on Salter Path
Road. One of the steps outlined in is the formation of
a Pedestrian Task Force. We will soon form this group
and try to find ways to plan for the funding and proper
design of these walkways.
Next Dinner with the Mayor.
The next dinner with the mayor wiU be on Friday April
15 (correction from last month), at 5:30 p.m. The loca
tion is to be determined.
PKS Recreation Card.
Each month, I will use this space to list those business
es working vrith the town to provide discounts to hold
ers of the PKS Rec Card. Here is the current listing:
-Country Club of the Crystal Coast
-Globe Kids & Gals, Atlantic Station
-Ernie’s Gifts, Atlantic Station
-Milazzo (Restaurant), Atlantic Beach Sheraton
-Molly’s (Restaurant), Adantic Beach Sheraton
-The Old Beaufort Shop
1!
korner