During the winter months, sea turtles are susceptible to being “cold-stunned.” Sea turtles are cold-blooded and rely on heat from their environment to maintain body temperature. When water and air temperatures drop rapidly, they become lethargic and unable to swim due to the cold.
Friday, February 4th, and Saturday, February 5th, the Aquarium’s Wildlife Rescue team admitted 80 cold-stunned green sea turtles that were found in the shallow bay systems on the Laguna Madre. The sea turtles came from conservation partners at Padre Island National Seashore and the Texas Sealife Center.
To make room for the sea turtles, the Aquarium temporarily closed a portion of its ground floor and used one of the exhibits to hold the temporary guests. The sea turtles stayed in two large holding systems that provided adequate water temperature for their recovery.
