Cape Cod Bay, known for its scenic beaches and thriving marine ecosystem, has become an unintentional refuge for sea turtles facing a dire threat from our ever-warming oceans.
CBS News reports that the Gulf of Maine, including Cape Cod Bay, has experienced one of the fastest global increases in ocean water temperature, forcing sea turtles to linger in these northern waters for longer than they can withstand.
By mid-November, the temperature drops too quickly for these cold-blooded reptiles to adapt, and volunteers find an increasing number of them washed ashore in a hypothermic state.
This phenomenon, known as cold-stunning, is taking a devastating toll on these majestic creatures, particularly the critically endangered Kemp's Ridley turtles.
More Cold-Stunned Turtles Washing Ashore
According to biologist Bob Prescott, director emeritus of the Massachusetts Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, the number of cold-stunned sea turtles in Cape Cod Bay has skyrocketed over the years.
In the 1970s, only a few dozen Kemp's Ridley turtles were found stranded on the bay's shores annually. Today, that number has soared to a staggering 750 to 760 turtles each year.
The Kemp's Ridley turtles unwittingly migrate from their nesting grounds thousands of miles away along the warm beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, where conservation efforts are underway to protect their fragile populations.
Donna Shaver, head of the Turtle Rescue Group at Padre Island National Seashore in Texas, highlights the multitude of threats they face, including oil spills, boat strikes, red tides, and entanglement in debris. These challenges make urgent care and rehabilitation efforts crucial for the survival of these unique species.
Rescue Efforts Gaining Impressive Results
One key facility dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating cold-stunned sea turtles is the Animal Care Center for the New England Aquarium, located outside Boston.
Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, the center has achieved an impressive 80% success rate in bringing these turtles back from the brink.
According to WECT, the rescue group traveled from Massachusetts to Fort Fisher in April to release 24 turtles.
Biologist Adam Kennedy, who works at the facility, emphasizes the turtles' resilience and the extensive treatment required to nurse them back to health, which can last up to two years.
However, due to the increasing number of stranded turtles, additional rehab facilities and hospitals are necessary to provide adequate care for these four-flippered patients.
Turtles Fly Too
An extraordinary non-profit organization called Turtles Fly Too has emerged to address the overwhelming demand for rehabilitation.
Founded by Ken Andrews, the organization relies on the voluntary efforts of hundreds of pilots who donate their time, planes, and fuel to transport sick sea turtles to rehab facilities across the country.
Describing their mission as a "life fight" and a "med-evac flight," Andrews emphasizes the urgent need for funding to support their noble cause. Currently, the pilots themselves contribute approximately $1 million annually to keep the operation running.
The collaborative efforts between rescuers, biologists, veterinarians, volunteers, and pilots have yielded encouraging results. Around 90% of the turtles transported to rehab facilities eventually return to the ocean.
These successful rehabilitation stories provide a glimmer of hope for the future of these endangered creatures.
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