Help Rehabilitate Turtles Rescued From Freezing Waters

While the cold-stunning season has passed, endangered turtles that were flown to rehabilitation centers are still being cared for, waiting for their time to be released. Their recovery can require months of specialized care. Your gift will help support those efforts and give these gentle animals a bright future.

The Issue:

Every year, endangered sea turtles migrate between warmer and colder waters. As ocean temperatures rise, turtles are expanding their range farther north in summer, making it less likely they'll be able to reach the warmer, southern waters in time for fall. When water temperatures drop too quickly, they can become cold-stunned. This potentially deadly condition affects turtles' circulation, organ functions, and immune systems, often causing them to drown. Hundreds of turtles can be stunned in one area alone.

Operation Turtle Takeoff:

To help prevent turtles from dying of cold-stunning, Operation Turtle Takeoff rehabilitates and flies cold-stunned turtles to warmer waters. These flights are crucial to release turtles as quickly as possible, saving their lives and ensuring that they can give birth to the next generation.

How Operation Turtle Takeoff Works
Rescue organizations operate hotlines and have trained staff and volunteers monitor New England beaches during stranding season. When turtles are rescued, they are stabilized and transferred to the New England Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital, for rehabilitation. Turtles are closely monitored by marine biologists as they are gradually warmed in recovery pools and reintroduced to feeding. After their individualized treatment plan has been met and they've passed diagnostic tests, turtles are cleared for takeoff. Turtles are flown with a heat pack and bedding to maintain their temperature. Receiving organizations will assess their health and complete the rehabilitation process before releasing the turtles back into the wild.

Rehabilitation:

After their flights, receiving organizations assess each turtle's health and design an individualized treatment plan. Turtles are monitored for recovery and cleared for release only after passing full diagnostic tests. Every step takes time, expertise, and resources — all made possible by supporters like you.

You can help. Will you donate now to rescue and rehabilitate these stranded turtles and send them back home to warmer waters?

Impact:

Flight Log:

• December 3, 40 cold-stunned turtles flown to rehab centers in NY and PA!
• November 19, 35 turtles flown to safety in North Carolina!
• November 24, 91 Kemp's ridley turtles flown to safety in Gulfport, MS and New Orleans, LA!

Nursed Back to Health, New Names, and Sent Back Home

Photo: Mississippi Aquarium

This May, Leonardo and Michelangelo, two cold-stunned sea turtles that you helped us fly to Mississippi, supported their rehabilitation, and gave gnarly new names, were released along with dozens of other turtles. 

Leonardo and Michelangelo had both been found in Massachusetts suffering from pneumonia, frost bite, and other life-threatening ailments. They were flown to the Mississippi Aquarium, where they were nursed back. These juvenile, Kemp's ridley sea turtles will now have a chance to grow big and strong. 

But more turtles continue their rehabilitation and await their day to be sent home. You can help us save these incredible turtles today.