One of the World’s Rarest Turtles Washes Up in Texas, Covered in Living Organisms and in Desperate Need of Help
One of the World’s Rarest Turtles Washes Up in Texas, Covered in Living Organisms and in Desperate Need of Help
“We are hopeful for her recuperation and eventual release back into the Gulf,” officials said
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A critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle was rescued in Texas after being found covered in organisms
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The turtle is now receiving care from the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research and veterinarians from the Houston Zoo
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“We are hopeful for her recuperation and eventual release back into the Gulf,” officials said
A sea turtle had beachgoers scratching their heads after washing up in Texas, looking as if it were covered in green fur. Rescuers were called to the scene and were shocked to discover that the turtle belonged to one of the world’s rarest species.
The Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research (GCSTR) shared in a social media post that its rescuers were called to a beach near Galveston on Saturday, March 7, after receiving a report about a stranded adult female Kemp’s ridley sea turtle.
Credit: Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research Facebook
Rescuers found the turtle lethargic and weighed down by epibionts, or organisms that attach themselves to other living creatures. Her shell and body were also covered in barnacles, algae, and sediment — signs that she may have been struggling for some time, researchers told Chron, the digital home of The Houston Chronicle.
Credit: Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research/Facebook
Christopher Marshall, director of the GCSTR, told Chron that the stranded turtle’s slow swimming may have impacted her health and led to her becoming stuck on the beach.
“Healthy sea turtles are swimming sea turtles,” Marshall explained to the Texas outlet. “Sea turtles that slow down their swimming due to health issues are quickly colonized by organisms in the water. This can turn into a positive feedback loop in that the extra weight causes the turtle to slow down further and expend further energy, which allows more epibionts to grow.”
Credit: Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research Facebook
After her rescue, the turtle was taken to the Houston Zoo for an emergency veterinary visit, the GCSTR said, before being transported to the organization’s rehabilitation hospital.
“This turtle is in critical condition but is getting the best care thanks to our veterinarian partners at the Houston Zoo and a dedicated team of staff, volunteers and students at our hospital,” Marshall said.
Credit: Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research Facebook
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According to NOAA Fisheries, Kemp’s ridley sea turtles — the smallest species of sea turtle in the world and Texas’ official state turtle — are most commonly found in the Gulf water around Texas.
The species often have triangular heads with slightly hooked beaks, and females lay their eggs on land. They are thought to reach maturity at around 13 years old, but have an estimated lifespan of at least 30 years.
Credit: Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research Facebook
Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are also listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, according to NOAA. The species faces habitat degradation, issues with fishing, boats and ocean debris. The species — one of the rarest turtle species, with an estimated 22,300 mature adults — is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
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Beachfront rescues like this are not uncommon in Texas. Chron reported that the GCSTR treated a juvenile loggerhead sea turtle that was also stranded and covered in marine organisms.
Both NOAA and the GCSTR recommend that anyone who encounters a stranded, injured, or entangled sea turtle contact professional responders and scientists who can take appropriate action, such as the Texas statewide 1-866-TURTLE-5 hotline.
The GCSTR also said that its work is funded through donations and shared that members of the public who want to support the newly rescued turtle’s care can do so by purchasing supplies from the center’s Amazon wishlist.
“We are hopeful for her recuperation and eventual release back into the Gulf,” the GCSTR added of the rescued turtle.
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