1999-2000 Cape Cod Bay Cold-Stunned Turtles

New England Aquarium: Cold-stunned Sea Turtles in Cape Cod Bay 1999-2000

by Kathryn Tuxbury¹, Brett Still^1,2, Robert Prescott¹, Cheryl Ryder³, Dennis Murley¹, Connie Merigo⁴, Cynthia Smith⁴, Beth Turnbull⁴:

New England Aquarium

Arrival of Turtles

November 8 to December 28, 1999
144 stranded sea turtles were transported to the New England Aquarium
- 123 Kemp’s ridleys (Lepidochelys kempii)
- 17 Loggerheads (Caretta caretta)
- 4 Green turtles (Chelonia mydas)

Status of Turtles upon Arrival

127 turtles were alive
All had severe hypothermia with secondary bacterial and fungal infections
At least 10 turtles had traumatic injuries

Diagnostics and Treatment Regime

The turtles’ body temperatures were gradually increased
Each turtle’s health status was monitored through examinations, complete blood counts, chemistry profiles, and radiographs
The turtles were treated with fluids, electrolytes, antibacterials, antifungals, anti-inflammatories and analgesics

Transport of Turtles to Other Rehabilitation Facilities

Eight transports were made between 19 November 1999 and 28 January 2000 to the following facilities:

The Turtle Hospital, Marathon Key, FL; Mote Marine Lab, Sarasota, FL; Epcot’s Living Seas, Orlando, FL; Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL; Marine Life Center, Juno Beach, FL; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, MA; Mystic Aquarium, Mystic, CT; Florida Aquarium, Tampa, FL; Topsail Sea Turtle Hospital, NC; Virginia Marine Science Center, VA; The Riverhead Foundation, Long Island, NY; National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA; Marine Biological Laboratories, Woods Hole, MA; Columbus Zoo, OH

Survival Statistics

84% of the turtles arriving alive at the New England Aquarium were rehabilitated:

89 Kemp’s ridleys (82% survival rate)
16 Loggerheads (100% survival rate)
2 Green turtles (66% survival rate)