ORLANDO, Fla. — SeaWorld Orlando announced the successful rescue and arrival of 12 of the most endangered species of sea turtles.
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The Kemp’s ridley sea turtles were rescued after becoming cold-stunned—a condition caused by sudden drops in water temperature. were rescued after becoming cold-stunned—a condition caused by sudden drops in water temperature.
Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the smallest sea turtle in the world.
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The species is named after Richard M. Kemp, a fisherman from Key West, Florida, who first submitted the species for identification in 1906.
They are primarily found in the Gulf of Mexico, but juveniles are also found in the Atlantic Ocean as far north as Nova Scotia and sometimes even occur in the eastern North Atlantic.
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The turtles will receive around-the-clock expert care to aid the turtles in their recovery and their eventual return to the wild.
The rescued turtles were part of a multi-state, multi-organization rescue effort that transported 33 cold-stunned sea turtles from Massachusetts to Georgia and Florida for continued rehabilitation.
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This life-saving operation involved a collaboration between the New England Aquarium (NEAQ), the National Marine Life Center (NMLC) and other dedicated partners, including Turtles Fly Too, whose volunteer pilots donated their time and expertise to ensure the turtles arrived safely.
The SeaWorld team is honored to play a vital role in the rehabilitation of these turtles, reinforcing its longstanding commitment to wildlife rescue and conservation, officials said.
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