Posted on: 2018-11-23 10:30:16
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Turtle news is rather light for this holiday week.
But we found a sea turtle with a cool new flipper, a few cold-stunning stories, and it’s never too early to plan for nesting season.
Also, increased monitoring after turtle poaching, the Wetlands of International Importance list grows by one, and a chance to help with sea turtle field research.
Plus more.
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Recent Box Turtle News
No box turtle news this week, but we want to share American Tortoise Rescue’s fundraiser to rebuild after the Malibu fire. The rescue is home to lots of different turtles & tortoises, including box turtles.
Recent U. S. Turtle News
This week a special sea turtle can finally dive and swim straight.
It’s cold-stunning season and cold turtles keep washing up. But many also get to go back home pretty quickly.
Meanwhile Arkansas adds some protections for its turtles but stops short of a complete ban on harvesting. And New Hampshire is planning ahead for next nesting season. Plus more.
Cold-stunned sea turtles news
Cold-stunning reminders: As the number of cold sea turtles washing ashore on the East coast climbs, officials remind us the turtles may be alive even if they look dead. And warming a cold turtle the wrong way could kill it. So if you see one, call for help.
Lucky loggerhead gets a ride in a Tesla: The area’s first cold-stunned loggerhead of the season spent its 1st night out of the water with a turtle expert before getting its impressive ride to Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. (Massachusetts)
Warmed up turtles head back to sea: Most of them had stranded during the recent cold spell. A couple had been recovering since last year. Includes pictures & video. (Texas)
Kellem doing well: The loggerhead is recovering at the Virginia Aquarium. Includes pictures.
Coast Guard helps turtles get back home: After rehab in North Carolina for cold stunning, 14 Kemp’s ridley, loggerhead and green sea turtles took a “Turtle Taxi” to warmer waters off the Virginia coast. Includes pictures. 💚
Other sea turtle news
Rocky’s loving his new prosthetic flipper! He lost his to a boat strike years ago, and he’s had trouble diving (and swimming in a straight line) since. But thanks to a kind-hearted prosthetist he’s swimming normally again. Includes video of his first swim after getting his new flipper. 💚 (Florida)
Eastham leatherback sea turtle has died: The turtle that looked pretty healthy when it was found on the beach last week died a couple days later. Staff at the New England Aquarium’s sea turtle hospital are concerned because this is the 2nd one in 2 weeks. And up until now they’d only seem 5 live leatherback strandings since 2005.
Rare hawksbill babies make it to the sea: With a little help. Their mama is one of very few hawksbills that nests in the US. And she’s been coming to the Florida Keys for 20 years. 💚
Miscellaneous turtle news
Mixed news for commercial turtle trapping in Arkansas: The state has added some regulations, including a ban on harvesting razorback musk turtles. It will also study how commercial trapping is affecting the state’s other turtle populations. You can also see a summary of the regulations here.
Creating nesting habitat now to help turtles come spring: New Hampshire Fish & Game Department has been tracking & studying Blanding’s turtles to understand their nesting habits. And they’re creating nesting spots closer to “home.” Hopefully the turtles will like these spots & won’t cross roadways as much looking for nesting sites.
Recent International Turtle News
This week’s international turtle news is all about sea turtles … studying them, rescuing them, and protecting them. Although sadly sometimes they get found too late.
Sea Turtle Conservancy is looking for help with field research: Help study green sea turtles in Costa Rica or leatherbacks in Panama. (Or jaguars in Coasta Rica).
Turtle rescued from plastic basket: Video shows a sea turtle wedged into a broken yellow basket. A group of friends in a charity fishing tournament saw it and was able to pull the basket off the turtle. 💚 (Guatemala)
Dubai’s last pristine beach area joins the Wetlands of International Importance list: The sanctuary hosts hundreds of marine species, including 2 sea turtles and 34 corals. Includes video.
Dead turtles trapped in rubbish: A diver filmed 2 turtles that looked to have died about a week before, trapped underwater in garbage. 😥 Warning: Graphic & disturbing images. (Queensland, Australia)
Seychelles increases beach monitoring to protect turtles: Poachers are taking green sea turtles, despite penalties that include steep fines and up to 2 years in prison.
Operation Caribbe rescues 2 more sea turtles: The Operation is actually about stopping drug smuggling in the Pacific Ocean. But boats taking part in the mission have also been finding and freeing trapped sea turtles recently.
Fishermen catch 6-foot leatherback in the Phillipines: Officials examined the giant turtle & then released it safely back to sea. Includes pictures and video.