Day 5: Terrific Terrapin Tub-Turning Pit Crew
Today was our fourth day volunteering at the turtle hospital, and we were greeted by the ever so bright-eyed and bushy tailed Fancy Gale. We started our day with a quick hang out sesh, and then went and fed all of the wonderful turtles in turtle bay (shoutout to Big Guy, Dutchman, and Ernest T. for always finishing their food).
After all the turtle's bellies were filled, we washed the fishy dishes and swept and mopped the many floors of the hospital. After giving the turtles a bit of a rest and digest sesh, we cleaned their tanks of leftover food and fecal matter. After our mopping sessions, we got to know a lot of the volunteers, especially Rhonda who nostalgically commented on Alvin's, Christine's, and my (Ian) ability to jump on top of the boxes of salt outside sick bay with ease (and without hurting our knees). Rhonda and some of the other ladies also gave us insight about the origins of the hospital and the first turtles that they saved.
As the group in sick bay was bathing the turtles, they shipped out the turtle's tubs to be cleaned by the Terrific Terrapin Tub-Turning Pit Crew, composed of myself (Ian, Deena), Joyce, Christine, Caroline, Donald, and Laila. We got our name after being challenged by Nicku to clean the tubs as fast as physically possible, and we delivered just that by showcasing our Terrific Tub-Turning skills of rinsing, washing, drying, and then bleaching the tubs. Our reward at the end of this wild NASCAR-esque experience was receiving our colorful Topsail Turtle Project tees and crew necks.
After all the turtle's bellies were filled, we washed the fishy dishes and swept and mopped the many floors of the hospital. After giving the turtles a bit of a rest and digest sesh, we cleaned their tanks of leftover food and fecal matter. After our mopping sessions, we got to know a lot of the volunteers, especially Rhonda who nostalgically commented on Alvin's, Christine's, and my (Ian) ability to jump on top of the boxes of salt outside sick bay with ease (and without hurting our knees). Rhonda and some of the other ladies also gave us insight about the origins of the hospital and the first turtles that they saved.
As the group in sick bay was bathing the turtles, they shipped out the turtle's tubs to be cleaned by the Terrific Terrapin Tub-Turning Pit Crew, composed of myself (Ian, Deena), Joyce, Christine, Caroline, Donald, and Laila. We got our name after being challenged by Nicku to clean the tubs as fast as physically possible, and we delivered just that by showcasing our Terrific Tub-Turning skills of rinsing, washing, drying, and then bleaching the tubs. Our reward at the end of this wild NASCAR-esque experience was receiving our colorful Topsail Turtle Project tees and crew necks.
After eating our tasty sandwiches, we were off to University of North Carolina at Wilmington to observe a green sea turtle necropsy. Many of us had some much needed naps on the way.
While we waited we explored the campus and had a great photo shoot by the fisher student center.
We then met Sarah Flynn who performed the necropsy. A necropsy is a dissection to determine how an animal died, which we already knew to be cold-stunning which led to starvation, as seen by the lack of food in the turtle's digestive tract. Christine and I (Ian) struggled slightly with the procedure, mostly due to the smell, but by the end we became more comfortable with the process and even touched multiple parts that were removed from the body.
When we got home we made letters with our bodies, which went swimmingly as you can see (Deena was attempting to make an H).
Caroline and Laila then made a lovely burrito bowl dinner, and we had a nice dance party during the preparation.
Our day came to a close with an enlightening reflection and many additions to the growing quotes page.
Signing off,
Ian and Deena
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