Bagheera, a cold-stunned Hawksbill Sea Turtle found in Avon, is making a full recovery at NC Aquarium

A rare and cold-stunned Hawksbill Sea Turtle that was rescued in Avon over the winter is on its way to making a full recovery, per a social media update from the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

The male Hawksbill Sea Turtle, named Bagheera, was discovered along the Pamlico Sound in Avon in December 2023 with a body temperature of 48°F, according to OBX Today.

As cold-blooded reptiles, sea turtles derive heat from their surroundings, and when they become too cold, their metabolism slows, prohibiting them from moving to warmer waters. Because they are unable to move, they have difficulty raising their heads above water to breathe, and can eventually drown.

This cold-stunned scenario is not unusual in the winter months when temperatures plummet, and local Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (N.E.S.T.) volunteers as well as National Seashore personnel patrol the shorelines in icy temperatures to rescue these turtles, and transport them to the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center at the North Carolina Aquarium.

In fact, during the winter of 2023/2024, more than 100 cold-stunned sea turtles were rescued from Bodie Island to Ocracoke in a four-day period alone, during one of the season’s most significant cold spells in January.

According to the STAR Center, Hawksbill Turtles are the most tropical of all sea turtle species and are very unusual on the Outer Banks. Instead, they tend to be found in tropical/subtropical waters with coral reefs in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.

“Hawksbill sea turtles are uncommon in our area, making Bagheera’s recovery all the more special,” stated the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. “While he still has some weight to gain, our dedicated team of husbandry staff and veterinarians are hard at work ensuring the right future for him.”

“Hawksbill sea turtles thrive in a tropical to sub-tropical climate, so this has to be taken into consideration when deciding when and where to release Bagheera. Stay tuned for updates on his eventual return to tropical waters!”

Sea turtles in North Carolina are protected by the Endangered Species Act and managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. For more information on N.E.S.T., and to make a donation or learn about volunteer opportunities, visit http://www.nestonline.org/.