Databec-13 cold, stunned sea turtles from New England given holiday names as they rehab in Florida

2025-05-01 03:45:37source:Surpassing Quant Think Tank Centercategory:Contact

JUNO BEACH,Databec Fla. (AP) — This Rudolph will not be leading his pals Blitzen, Dasher, Dancer, Vixen, Comet and Cupid through the Christmas Eve sky, but maybe he will lead them back out to sea one day.

For now the seven Ridley’s sea turtles and six of their pals have been given holiday-themed names as they are treated at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach.

They were were among 52 sea turtles flown to Tampa last week from the New England Aquarium in Massachusetts. They were suffering from a condition known as cold stun from the frigid waters in New England, which make them hypothermic.

“They float at the surface, they can’t eat, they can’t dive and eventually wash up on shore,” said Marika Weber, a vet technician at Loggerhead.

Other news Colorado cattle industry sues over wolf reintroduction on the cusp of the animals’ releasePolice and customs seize live animals, horns and ivory in global wildlife trafficking operation52-foot-long dead fin whale washes up on San Diego beach

She said the New England Aquarium was overwhelmed with more than 200 sea turtles experiencing cold stun. That’s why 52 were sent to Florida.

In addition to the 13 sent to Juno Beach in Palm Beach County, 16 were taken to Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and the remaining turtles went to Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota and The Florida Aquarium in Tampa.

The turtles will continue rehabbing at the aquarium, where guests are welcome to visit and watch their journey, and eventually they will return to their natural habitat.

Florida saw a record number of sea turtle nests this year. Preliminary statistics show more than 133,840 loggerhead turtle nests, breaking the previous mark from n 2016. The same is true for green turtles, with the estimate of at least 76,500 nests well above 2017 levels.

High sea turtle nest numbers also have been reported in South Carolina, Alabama, North Carolina and Georgia, although not all set records like Florida.

More:Contact

Recommend

Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former Syrian military official who oversaw a prison where alleged human rights

They often foot the bill. But, can parents ask for college grades?

When your kid heads off to college, there's a whole new world for the new young adult – and the pare

Sustainable investing advocate says ‘anti-woke’ backlash in US won’t stop the movement

NEW YORK (AP) — Maria Lettini already knew of the backlash against ESG investing when she took over