The Audubon Aquarium Rescue of New Orleans has been doing some amazing work. On March 12, they successfully released 29 sea turtles back into the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Of that bunch, 27 were Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, and two were green sea turtles. However, that release is just a part of the work they have been doing. In addition to this release, the New Orleans aquarium has successfully saved 35 Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. That is an impressive contribution to conservation for sure.
Videos by Outdoors
Aquarium Saves 35 Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles
In a Facebook post, the aquarium shared details about the release of the 27 turtles, and the Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. They shared that all the Kemp’s ridley sea turtles that were released were named after rocks and minerals. Then they joked that “after months of rehabilitation, these rocks are polished and back to shining in the ocean!”
Additionally, the post shared that the “Kemp’s ridleys are part of the group of 35 cold-stunned turtles sent to us from New England Aquarium.” Cold-stunning occurs when the water temperatures are too frigid for sea turtles. Then the dramatic temperature change causes them to go into hypothermic shock.
Good Good Good shared some details on the sea turtle’s discovery and progress at the aquarium. Apparently, the sea turtles “had been found stranded along the New England coast in November after severe winter weather struck Cape Cod.”
The New England Aquarium saved 404 Kemp’s ridley turtles, and in December, the Audubon Aquarium Rescue helped them out by taking nearly three dozen off their hands.
Long But Rewarding Process
The sea turtles arrived at the aquarium in various conditions. Some needed more tender love and care than others. During the time of the release, 8 out of the 35 Kemp’s ridley sea turtles remained in recovery. They were not quite ready or strong enough to survive in the ocean on their own yet.
Unfortunatley, over the last few decades, the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle’s population has been dwindling. They are now considered one of the rarest sea turtles, which is why their rehabilitation and care are of vast importance.
Fortunately, there are wonderful conservation workers out there, like this aquarium, that are actively working to save the sea turtles and increase their population, one life at a time.
