52 Endangered Sea Turtles at Rehab After Suffering From Cold Stun

(Photo : Getty Images/Yuri CORTEZ )

A total of 52 endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles that suffered from "cold stun" on a private jet trip from the New England Aquarium in Massachusetts are undergoing rehabilitation at four facilities in Florida.

Rehabilitated Turtles

Sixteen of the turtles that landed in Tampa on Tuesday were delivered to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. From the icy seas of New England, all of the turtles were suffering from a condition called cold stun.

The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, and the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Jupiter received the remaining turtles.

One of the facilities said they have been involved in the ongoing maintenance of these turtles, and this happens every winter since 2016.

"We know that their time in rehabilitation here makes a difference for the future of this endangered species, and we are proud to be able to contribute to their conservation efforts," said Shelly Marquardt, a veterinarian for the Clearwater facility.

A news statement from the aquarium stated that last week, fifteen turtles were transported to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, and thirty-five turtles were flown to facilities in North Carolina.

The aquarium is open to visitors who would like to follow the turtles on their rehabilitation journey. The turtles will eventually be put back in their own environment.

Cold Stun

Being cold-blooded reptiles, sea turtles adjust their body temperature to suit their environment.

The turtles' circulatory systems slow down after extended exposure to frigid water temperatures, making it impossible for them to swim or perform other basic functions.

Their internal body temperature reduces when the water temperature goes below fifty degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in cold shock, according to the Fisheries Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The turtles in this state may be swept ashore and become feeble and sedentary. The turtles may experience health issues or even perish if their temperature drops further or if they are not saved.

Events known as "cold-stunnning" are frequent and can impact hundreds or even thousands of marine turtles every year. These occurrences, which have been common in recent decades in waters as far north as Cape Cod Bay in Massachusetts and as far south as Corpus Christi Bay in Texas, can occur during extremely cold weather events.

Early November saw the appearance of sea turtles on the Cape Cod coastline, some of which were carried by strong winds, according to the New England Aquarium. T

This season, more than 200 sea turtles have received treatment; these include six loggerheads, 19 green turtles, and 186 Kemp's ridley turtles that are severely endangered.

According to the aquarium, some of the turtles had injuries like broken shells and pneumonia, in addition to dehydration. Because of this, the length of treatment until the turtles are allowed to return to the water might vary from one week to over a year.

"Our survivorship is anywhere between 70 and 80 percent, depending on how severe the winter is," said Adam Kennedy, director of rescue and rehabilitation at the aquarium.