Fort Macon, Feb. 3, 2023 – A sight to see and a day to remember, as 107 rehabilitated sea turtles were recently released into the ocean by the US Coast Guard Station Fort Macon. The North Carolina Aquariums, with the help of volunteers from the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (N.E.S.T.) and Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (KBSTRRC) and biologists from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, successfully transported the sea turtles to the US Coast Guard Station for release.
The turtles released were of the three most common species in N.C., including loggerhead, green, and Kemp’s ridley, who were brought to rehabilitation centers due to cold-stunning. This condition occurs when water temperatures drop quickly, hindering the turtles’ migration to warmer waters, especially affecting juveniles.
The release not only made room for more sea turtles in the aquarium facilities, but also provided an opportunity for the public to witness and appreciate the ongoing efforts of various organizations to rescue and rehabilitate these magnificent creatures. Currently, the Sea Turtle Assistance & Rehabilitation Center (STAR) is caring for 79 cold-stunned sea turtle patients, with the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher also taking care of several more.
Matthew Godfrey, sea turtle biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, emphasized the significance of the collaboration of various stakeholders in the rescue and rehabilitation of cold-stunned sea turtles in N.C. He acknowledged the ongoing efforts of groups such as N.E.S.T. and KBSTRRC, state organizations such as NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine and N.C. Aquariums, and federal agencies such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard in making the successful release of these sea turtles possible.
If you come across a stranded sea turtle in North Carolina, do your part by calling 252-241-7367 or contacting your local stranding response team. Together, we can ensure a brighter future for these magnificent creatures of the sea.
