Endangered New England Sea Turtles Sent to Rehab in NOLA

Animal lovers across the USA are rejoicing at the news that some endangered New England sea turtles are getting a second chance at life, thanks to the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans. I guess you could call it a Thanksgiving miracle.

The Audubon Nature Institute includes a family of ten museums and parks in the New Orleans area that includes the Aquarium of the Americas and the historic Audubon Zoo. They are dedicated to preserving nature, and the animals that inhabit it. So, it was no surprise that when officials found out about the seas turtles a couple of weeks ago, they stepped up to help in the rehab efforts.

The 30 endangered Kemps ridley sea turtles experienced a severe cold snap in their native waters off the coast of New England and were flown to the  Aquatic Center in Algiers to get special care from Audubon animal health care specialists. Gabriella Harlamert with the Coastal Wildlife Network told WVUE TV “These guys got into a cold snap and their bodies shot down."

The Coastal Wildlife Network is the go-to response partner for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in their efforts to rehabilitate not only sea turtles, but other mammals that include manatees, whales, and dolphins. Honestly, they are an amazing organization dedicated to helping our sea creatures with their basic and advanced medical needs. They are also officially authorized by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to rehab sea turtles.

As soon as the endangered turtles are well enough, they will be released into the Gulf of Mexico in stages.