APOLLO BEACH – Facing Atlantic Ocean temperatures plummeting into the 50s, waves of green sea turtles were rescued from the frigid waters off Florida’s east coast near St. Augustine.
The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Apollo Beach took in six cold-stunned turtles on Jan. 23 and another dozen on Jan. 24.
These arrivals bring the total to 29 sea turtles under critical care at the center.
To help meet the growing need for resources, the aquarium called on the community for urgent support through donations.
“For more than a decade, we have successfully rescued and rehabilitated critical care sea turtles who would not have survived without our assistance,” said Dr. Debborah Luke, The Florida Aquarium’s senior vice president of conservation. “These patients receive the same level of compassionate care as beloved pets in emergency veterinary clinics but typically require months of treatment before they can be returned to their natural environment. However, the costs quickly add up during crises like this, with treatment for each turtle averaging $15,000.”
The public can see the lifesaving work in action at The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center, which is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., November through April.
