Experts at the New England Aquarium rescued more than 200 sea turtles in critical condition due to cold shock in Cape Cod Bay.
Hundreds of young sea turtles in critical condition due to hypothermia stranded on the coast of Massachusetts’ Cape Cod Bay this month. Although conservation experts have identified this as a “cold shock” event when temperatures drop, this year the situation is especially bad as strong winds push more turtles inland to escape the frigid waters with the impact fatal, Independent reported on December 3.
Sea turtles are cold-blooded animals and cannot regulate their body temperature. Cold shock occurs when the water temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius. This condition can be life-threatening if the turtle is exposed to water for several days. They become weak and unable to coordinate their buoyancy. Sea turtles will float on the water and not move to conserve energy.
“We often see pneumonia in these turtles. They are very underweight and dehydrated. Some have broken bones due to collisions with boats or when washed up on rocks,” said Adam Kennedy, rescue director. and restoration of the New England Aquarium, said. “But they were in pretty rough shape because they had been floating around for several months before running aground. It was amazing that they were still alive and washed up on the beach.”
Cold shock events occur when many turtles are affected at the same time in the same area, and Cape Cod Bay is a common stranding site. If not found, they will die from complications related to hypothermia and the inability to eat or drink. However, the mortality rate of sea turtles has decreased since the first mass cold shock in 2001 due to improved rescue work.
The New England Aquarium currently cares for more than 200 turtles at its sea turtle hospital in Quincy, many of which are critically endangered Kemp’s ridley turtles. This is the smallest and most endangered sea turtle. Rescuers also encountered pineapple hawksbill turtles and loggerhead turtles. When the aquarium finds the turtle, they will take X-rays and take blood samples. Medical staff also checked their heartbeats. Turtles with a heart rate of less than 10 beats per minute will be injected with epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, to activate the heart. Turtles in bad condition will receive specialized fluids.
Sea turtles will be exposed to gradually warm and salty water over a period of 3 days. More active individuals will be moved to the aquarium’s swimming pool. They are monitored to ensure good recovery. When they are strong enough, they will be taken to another place of care. After a few weeks or months, they will be released back into the sea.
There are many reasons why sea turtles become stranded along the Atlantic coast. Sea turtles migrate thousands of kilometers each year, preferring temperatures in tropical waters from 21.1 – 26.6 degrees Celsius. Newly hatched turtles float along the Gulf Stream, a strong ocean current that brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico into the ocean. Atlantic. However, after spending warm summers in Cape Cod Bay, they often get stuck in the cold months, especially with strong winds.