News

Actions

10 cold-stunned turtles treated at North Carolina Aquarium

Posted at 4:57 PM, Dec 12, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-12 16:58:17-05

ROANOKE ISLAND, N.C. – The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is treating 10 cold-stunned turtles.

The turtles were found stranded over the weekend in an area around Hatteras.

Eight green sea turtles, one loggerhead, and one Kemp’s ridley turtle were rescued after they drifted ashore.

Volunteers with the Hatteras Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (N.E.S.T) and the National Park Service found the turtles in the Pamlico Sound on Saturday and Sunday.

The turtles were transferred to NCARI’s Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center where they are being treated for hypothermia-like symptoms.

Their symptoms are associated with cold-stunning .

The chances of sea turtles getting cold-stunned rise whenever water temperatures fall below 50 °F, an Aquarium spokesperson said.

Donations to the STAR Center are always welcome. To donate, please mail or hand deliver a check with “STAR” or “Sea Turtle” in the subject line to the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island, 374 Airport Road, P.O. Box 967, Manteo NC, 27954 or donate online at ncaquariums.com/roanoke-island and use the code SEATURTLE2016.

Related:

North Carolina Aquarium prepares to help cold-stunned turtles

Virginia Aquarium names cold-stunned sea turtle patients after Dr. Seuss characters