Massachusetts sea turtles return to ocean after months of rehab
BOSTON (WWLP) – Over 30 critically endangered sea turtles, some rescued from Cape Cod, were released back into the ocean after months of rehabilitative care at the New England Aquarium.
In a news release from the New England Aquarium, 25 Kemp's ridley sea turtles from the aquarium's sea turtle hospital in Quincy and the remaining from New York Marine Rescue Center were treated for conditions including pneumonia and dehydration after becoming cold-stunned in November and December.
Due to the rapidly changing ocean temperature and wind patterns, the aquarium says that more than 500 live turtles were rescued between November 2024 and January 2025. On Monday, 31 sea turtles were released back into the Atlantic Ocean in Fort Fisher, North Carolina.
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'It is always incredible to watch these turtles become healthy again after being cold-stunned,' said Sammi Chaves, a Rescue Biologist at the New England Aquarium who led the transport. 'The progress they make from when they first arrive at the New England Aquarium, all the way to when they are released on the beach, is amazing and really proves how resilient these animals are.'
A crowd of onlookers gathered on the beach in Fort Fisher, N.C., to watch the sea turtles head into the ocean waters.
During their care, the sea turtles were named Pegasus, Linus, Medusa, Apollo, and Echo, to name a few, under this year's Greek mythology theme.
'With sea turtle strandings on the rise over the past decade, our rescue, rehabilitation, and research efforts are more important than ever,' said Adam Kennedy, the Aquarium's Director of Rescue and Rehabilitation. 'We have much to learn about these animals, especially the critically endangered Kemp's ridley, if we are to ensure a viable future for them.'
The aquarium has an additional 42 sea turtles that are still undergoing rehabilitation and will be released off Cape Cod in the summer months.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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