Sea Turtles Arrive By Private Jet for Warmer Waters in Sarasota Florida
By: Carol Erickson
Since moving to Florida several years ago, I have been very pleasantly surprised to see an abundance of respect and caring for all wildlife. This could not be more evident then at Mote Marine & Mammal Research Center in Sarasota.
On Friday, the rehab hospital admitted 9 more endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles and one threatened green sea turtle to its facility from the New England Aquarium in Quincy Massachusetts. With a collective diagnosis of hypothermia, the turtles were given immediate attention. The hypothermic reaction occurs when sea turtles are exposed to prolonged cold water temperatures which causes decreased heart rate & circulation, followed by shock and even death.
Initially the turtles were evaluated, x-rayed & closely monitored. Many times they are treated with high dose antibiotics and fluids. Improvements can come quickly, but as Lynn Byrd, Mote’s Rehab/Medical Care Coordinator says, “We don’t give up on anybody” and if more time is needed, they will continue to care for the orphaned wildlife with the goal of returning all back to their environment.
We wish them continued success!
For more information visit www.mote.org
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| Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital admitted nine endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles and one threatened green sea turtle Friday — helping with a team effort to rehabilitate 46 cold-stunned turtles initially brought to the New England Aquarium (NEAQ) in Quincy, Massachussetts. The turtles traveled Friday, Dec. 8 by private jet from NEAQ to four Florida facilities: Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Florida Aquarium and Sea World Orlando.
Mote’s hospital staff have been evaluating the condition of these turtles, which have been in NEAQ’s care for nearly a month.
On Monday, Members of the media are invited to view the turtle patients and interview Mote’s rehabilitation and medical care coordinator.
The Ann and Alfred Goldstein Marine Mammal Research & Rehabilitation Center
1703 Ken Thompson Parkway
Sarasota, FL 34236
Additional information:
Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital provides state-of-the-art critical care and chronic care for several species of stranded sea turtles. The primary mission of the hospital is to rehabilitate these animals and return them to the wild, at the same time gaining information that will expand knowledge of the biology, disease processes, and veterinary care of these animals.
Did you know?
Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program and Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital have responded to more than 1,400 sea turtle strandings. Since 2010, Mote has received an average of more than 600 calls per year and responded to and recovered a total of 620 stranded sea turtles.
Learn more about the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, the world’s smallest sea turtle species.
Learn more about the green sea turtle. |
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Founded in 1955, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium celebrated its 60th year as an independent, nonprofit 501(c)3 research organization in 2015. Mote’s beginnings date back six decades to the passion of a single researcher, Dr. Eugenie Clark, her partnership with the community and philanthropic support, first of the Vanderbilt family and later of the William R. Mote family.
Today, Mote is based in Sarasota, Fla. with field stations in eastern Sarasota County and the Florida Keys and Mote scientists conduct research on the oceans surrounding all seven of the Earth’s continents.
Mote’s 25 research programs are dedicated to today’s research for tomorrow’s oceans, with an emphasis on world-class research relevant to the conservation and sustainability of our marine resources. Mote’s vision also includes positively impacting public policy through science-based outreach and education. Showcasing this research is Mote Aquarium, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 365 days a year. Learn more at mote.org.
Contact Us:
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, Fla., 34236. 941.388.4441 |
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