CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A large number of Kemp's Ridley Turtles were flown via private plane to Texas yesterday because of a cold-stunning event around Cape Cod, Mass.
These are the most endangered species of sea turtles in the world, so when New England Aquarium called for help, South Texas answered.
11 of those 32 turtles were delivered to TSA, yesterday evening. They received a full check-up from the aquarium staff and a team from Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Since cold-stunning events tend to be longer and more hostile in northern climates, the New England Aquarium ran out of room for hospitalized sea turtles.
3News spoke with TSA CEO Jesse Gilbert Thursday about the condition of the turtles when they arrived.
"They've been cold, some of them, for two or three weeks, so internally they're kind of messed up,” Gilbert said. “We're going to work with them and get them recovered and then once the weather here turns suitable and they get a good bill of health from the medical team, they'll be released in the Gulf of Mexico."
Since the Gulf of Mexico is the natural habitat for Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles, TSA will spend the next three months nursing them back to full health so they can be released into the wild. Gilbert also said this year, there were less turtles sent to them, compared to the twenty around this time last year.
TSA joins Amos Rehabilitation Keep and Texas Sealife Center as one of three South Texas destinations for these stranded turtles. Gilbert expressed his excitement for next year, when the new wildlife rescue center is built on the grounds of the aquarium and the public can witness these relief efforts first-hand.
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