Sea Turtles – North Carolina Aquariums
Written By: Gail Clifford | Published By: Weekend Notes | July 01, 2022
https://www.weekendnotes.com/north-carolina-aquarium-on-roanoke-island/
During a recent trip to the Outer Banks, North Carolina, we made a point to visit the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. A popular attraction, we did visit during a rainy portion of the day. If you want to avoid crowds, you may prefer to visit on a sunny day. While we sincerely enjoyed the “Waters of the Outer Bank” and learned so much about the over 200 species of fish, sharks, and other sea creatures in residence, our hearts were taken by the sea turtles.
In the Outer Banks, the Loggerhead, Leatherback, Kemp’s Ridley, Hawksbill, and Green sea turtles either visit or nest. The Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center at the North Carolina Aquarium takes in injured turtles, rehabilitates them, and, when it’s safe, return them to the Croatan Sound. Sea Turtles have existed for 100 million years, outlasting dinosaurs, but are now threatened and on the endangered list.
The STAR Center has healed hundreds of sea turtles, aka Testudines Cryptodira, some of them more than once. During our visit, we met Smorz, a 12-pound green turtle, slightly dehydrated and “repeat offender” the volunteer said with a laugh. She also cared for Gonzo, a 4-pound green turtle who was very thin and dehydrated. Sweetarts, a 9-pound green turtle seemed the most injured with “an old head trauma wound.” She shared that nests and hatchling are vulnerable to predators and storms while older turtles, the juvenile or mature, may be injured by ingesting fishhooks or plastic, being struck by boats, or dredging equipment.
In the winter, turtles are susceptible to “cold stunning,” where the decrease in water temperature leaves them unable to function normally. If not rescued, they grow weak and are carried away by tides and currents. The lucky ones wash ashore near a turtle rehabilitation center. Like humans battling the flu, turtles can develop respiratory illnesses that can advance to pneumonia. In North Carolina, this happens to about 300 turtles each winter. In New England, more than 500 turtles are affected. During a harsh winter, though, like North Carolina experienced in the winter of 2015 to 2016, nearly 2,000 sea turtles washed to shore by the end of January.
The STAR Center remains instrumental in continuing education and cutting-edge research that contributes to the recovery of endangered sea turtles and their long-term protection.
This year, Cape Hatteras National Seashore helped release 25 Kemp’s Ridley turtles and one loggerhead into the warm water across from the Graveyard of the Atlantic after a turtle caravan from Cape Cod following rehabilitation for cold stunning. These turtles have all been off medications for more than a month, eat well, and act like they want to go. Staff opened the banana boxes that had carried the turtles from the northeast and the turtles flapped fins to scoot into the ocean.
Gail Clifford
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