Over a dozen sea turtles that were stunned by cold temperatures and rescued by the New England Aquarium from Cape Code Bay were airlifted to Central Florida to be restored to health on Friday. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Coast Guard planes transported the turtles to SeaWorld Orlando, the Volusia County Marine Science Center and other aquariums.
Unusually warm water temperatures in November delayed the turtles exit from Cape Code Bay, SeaWorld officials told the Associated Press. After temperatures dropped quickly, the sea turtles caught hypothermia before washing ashore and being rescued by the New England Aquarium.
The aquarium rescued more than 150 turtles, the Orlando Sentinel reported. According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the New England Aquarium has a new $4.5 million "state of the art" facility with a capacity to treat nearly 100 sea turtles. However, aquarium spokesman Tony LaCasse said it had received more than 100 in the past 10 days.
After the rescues, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were then tasked with finding temporary homes for the turtles to recover. Of the turtles recovered, 20 Kemp's Ridley sea turtles were sent to SeaWorld and five massive loggerhead sea turtles were sent to the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet.
Marine Science Center manager Michael Brothers told the Daytona Beach News-Journal that the center is equipped and prepared to handle the large loggerheads.
Once warmer waters return, the sea turtles will be returned to their natural habitats, the AP reported.
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