MARATHON, Fla. (WWSB) – About two dozen critically endangered sea turtles are recovering in the Florida Keys after being \u201ccold-stunned\u201d off Cape Cod, a rescue facility said.<\/p>\n
The 25 Kemp\u2019s ridley juvenile sea turtles were flown from New England to Turtle Hospital in Marathon.<\/p>\n
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Kemp ridley turtles are primarily found in the Gulf, but juveniles are also found in the Atlantic Ocean as far north as Nova Scotia and sometimes even seen in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean.<\/p>\n
When the cold weather moves in quickly, the shape of Cape Cod Bay traps them and the consequences can be deadly.<\/p>\n
Once they arrived at the hospital, they underwent examinations and treatment, said Turtle Hospital manager Bette Zirkelbach.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are very special visitors that have come to the Turtle Hospital to be rehabilitated in the warm weather,\u201d she said. \u201cOnce they are back in good health, they will be returned to the warmer waters in Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll sea turtles in and around the United States are on the endangered species list,\u201d Zirkelbach said. \u201cThe Kemp\u2019s ridley turtles are critically endangered, which means it\u2019s possible they could go extinct in our lifetime. It\u2019s very important to get these juvenile turtles back in good health and return to the wild so they can procreate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some turtles may recover in a month, she said. Others could require up to a year of care as they battle pneumonia and deep bone infections.<\/p>\n
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