Sea turtles that were found cold-stunned in early January have been released by Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida.
Twenty nine sea turtles that became cold-stunned early this month from the bomb cyclone that blanketed much of the eastern United States were released back into the ocean in Honeymoon Island, Fla. The turtles spent time at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Fla., where they were rehabilitated and assessed before they were released.
29 Sea Turtles Released by Clearwater Marine Aquarium
LIVE: Our team is releasing 29 rescued sea turtles back into the Gulf today. Join us in welcoming them home! #CMAinspires
Posted by Clearwater Marine Aquarium on Thursday, January 25, 2018
When turtles become cold-stunned, they are too cold to swim and just float on the surface, where they can become dehydrated.
"A lot of consideration goes into whether or not it is safe for these turtles to go back,” Shelly Marquardt the veterinarian at Clearwater Marine Aquarium told ABC Action News. “Water conditions, temperatures, weather coming in, so this is a big group effort with Florida Fish and Wildlife to determine if this is appropriate and everyone was in agreement that this was the appropriate thing for the turtles today.”
The aquarium received 70 turtles during the cold weather earlier this month. Some were too sick and died and others are still in rehabilitation. Those still in rehab will be released as a later date.
