Eleven new patients are being cared for at the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. The Kemp ridley turtles, shipped in from Massachusetts on Nov. 25, are being treated for cold stunning, a hypothermic reaction that occurs when sea turtles are exposed to cold water temperatures for too long.
In the Northeast Region, 50 to 200 sea turtle were found suffering from the malady between late October and December. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation made arrangements with several Florida sea turtle hospitals to care for as many sea turtles as possible until they are ready for release.
The smallest and most endangered of the sea turtle species, Kemp ridleys are also the most common cold stunned species in the Northeast. To treat them, staffers will monitor vital signs, fluids for hydration and x-rays to look for signs of illness or injury. They will ensure they get a proper diet and medications.
Gumbo Limbo’s sea turtle conservation program has been rescuing sick and injured sea turtles for two decades. The rehabilitation facility opened in 2010. Since then, more than 275 injured or sick sea turtles have been treated there.
To visit the turtles, stop by the center (www.gumbolimbo.org) at 1801 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton. Visitors are encouraged to donate $5.
— Staff Report
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