140 Cold Stunned Sea Turtles to be Released

Last week Gulf World Marine Institute (GWMI) received 142 endangered cold stunned sea turtles. The marine turtles have been stranding due to unusual cold temperatures in St. Joe Bay. 

These reptiles are cold blooded; they cannot thermo regulate their body temperature. As a result, the cold temperatures are placing these animals in a hypothermic state and they become very weak and can catch secondary illnesses. 

This is the 2nd cold stun event this year. 

Out of the 142 sea turtles that stranded none were repeat strandings from the 1st stun event. 

Local volunteers along with Florida Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and University of Florida have assisted in the rescue and transport efforts of these animals. 

After spending a week in rehabilitation, 140 turtles are medically cleared and ready to be released. There are two remaining sea turtles that require further rehabilitation and will be released soon. 

We would like to give a sincere thank you to all of the volunteers for their search, rescue, and transport efforts and to Edgewater Beach Resort and Walmart for donating supplies for rehabilitation. 

GWMI will be releasing the sea turtles tomorrow Friday, February 7th at 12:30 PM Eastern Time at Cape Palms Park in Cape San Blas. 

Gulf World Marine Institute would like to invite the public to view these sea turtles being released back to the Gulf of Mexico where the water temperature than the shallow bay. 

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