Outer Banks’ sea turtles take a trip to the Triangle for recovery…WITH VIDEO
With cold-stunned sea turtles taking over even the outdoor bathrooms at the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island, the state Museum of Natural Sciences has stepped in to help.
The museum in Raleigh this week took in eight green sea turtles from the aquarium, where they will be monitored and cared for over the next few months by Head Veterinarian Dr. Dan Dombrowski and the museum’s Living Collections staff.
“We’re happy to have this opportunity to assist the aquarium with this conservation action effort,” said Dombrowski. “Sea turtles are such an important species to help rehabilitate. They are able to live so long, if we can help these juvenile turtles today, they may be around for another 100 years and produce thousands of offspring for the future.”
Cold-stunning is a condition which is similar to hypothermia and is caused by dropping water temperatures. The condition renders the turtles unable to swim properly. The recovery process begins by gradually warming the turtles back up over the course of a few days.
The turtles will occasionally be on view to visitors while receiving veterinary care at the museum’s “Window on Animal Health.” Follow the museum on Twitter @naturalsciences for more information.
Once the turtles are deemed healthy enough to release, they will be taken offshore and released into warmer waters.
The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences is just one of many institutions across the state assisting in this crucial effort to aid cold-stunned sea turtles.
The effort to rescue and rehabilitate sea turtles is led by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, which has collaborated with many federal, state and private organizations in the effort, including the North Carolina Aquariums and Jennette’s Pier, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cape Lookout National Seashore, Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Hatteras Island Wildlife Rehabilitation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Marine Fisheries Service.
