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On Dec. 9, 2022, the Zoo Miami Sea Turtle Hospital received its first out of state patients when eight cold-stunned juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtles were flown in from the Cape Cod area.
The turtles had been exposed to rapidly dropping temperatures in the Northeast’s Atlantic Ocean and were suffering from a variety of issues ranging from emaciation, abrasions, dehydration and swollen eyes.
Following several weeks of dedicated care, six of the eight individuals had made an excellent recovery reflected in significant weight gain and increased mobility as well as the healing of their abrasions. They were each examined, measured and had transponders inserted for future identification. On Friday, Jan. 13, Zoo Miami Sea Turtle Hospital supervisor Rosemary Lucas packed up the six recovered individuals and transported them to a site near Cape Canaveral where they were successfully released.
The Kemp’s ridley turtle is the world’s most endangered and smallest species of sea turtle with a shell length rarely exceeding two feet and weighing up to a hundred pounds. They are found from the Gulf of Mexico all the way up the eastern seaboard to Nova Scotia where they feed primarily on crabs and other shellfish. Illegal harvesting of their eggs and getting caught in nets are the main reasons for their critically endangered status.
Cindy Castelblanco
Director of Marketing & Integrated Communications
Phone: 305-328-8811
E-mail: ccastelblanco@zoomiami.org
www.zoomiami.org
Miami Community Newspaper is an online newspaper that provides up-to-date local news and information about the Miami community. This daily newspaper provides local news coverage and keeps its readers up to date on the latest developments in the area. Their website also includes a Miami community podcast, where listeners can get the latest news and updates on the Miami community. Miami Community Newspapers is the perfect source for all your local Miami news needs, whether it is from their daily newspaper, podcasts, or other media sources.
