The sea turtles are recovering from hypothermia-related conditions at the New England Aquarium.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, dozens of cold-stunned sea turtles with floral-themed names are preparing for a date with the Atlantic Ocean.
The 53 sea turtles are rehabilitating at the New England Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital in Quincy, where they’ve been recovering from hypothermia-related conditions.
It’s tradition for aquarium staff and volunteers to name the sea turtles receiving long-term care, and this year’s theme is flowers. The group includes endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles “Rose,” “Peony,” and “Marigold” and several loggerhead sea turtles with names like “Water Lily,” “Dogwood,” and “Bird of Paradise.”
The annual sea turtle cold-stunning season ended in January, with aquarium staff treating nearly 400 who had been stranded on Cape Cod beaches since November.
Most of the turtles were stabilized and taken to other rehab facilities, but the 53 that remain are being treated for life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia, sepsis, bone infection, and dehydration. Scientists say the turtles have developed severe illnesses due to being unable to regulate their body temperature in the frigid waters of Cape Cod Bay.