Watch: Truro officials rescue ‘extremely rare’ 350-pound loggerhead turtle from Cape Cod beach
Officials said the sea creature was having a hard time breathing on its own when vets first began treating it.
Related Links
Officials discovered a rare 350-pound adult male loggerhead turtle Friday on a beach in Truro, where the waves were washing onto him and rescuers said they weren’t sure he was even alive until one of his feet moved just slightly.
The Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary posted a video to Facebook showing a group of people helping secure the sea creature for safe transport to be treated at the New England Aquarium. In the background, while rescuers tucked the loggerhead into an orange covering, someone could be heard commenting on how “this is one lucky turtle.”
https://www.facebook.com/MassAudubonWellfleetBay/videos/363441961420291/
Aquarium officials posted photos of the loggerhead on Facebook, saying he came in only “minimally responsive and was not initiating breaths on his own.”
Vets and biologists have since been administering medication and replacement fluids to help stabilize the turtle.
https://www.facebook.com/NewEnglandAquarium/photos/a.174717500352/10158284767655353/?__cft__[0]=AZWC7cIpc_TlONuZfS3NP4DBa2woZxW3VSp_BZJHgwod3E61NeCx4yEzyDMr0fSm2qKVHAi81lzuyTEOS63PwsGMv3bZ0WHI8B5ClqMtCZZuAYxl0c7wkGmPRjcJvQOSsRUTKcsqZzpobf6V0BAgGHIUynmbxbSE6yI7WvSfdbEI9w&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
Members of the Truro Department of Public Works and the Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary were part of the recovery efforts, which the Aquarium said was an “extremely rare” situation for the Cape Cod area, especially when it’s still so early in the season.
The loggerhead is now in recovery, being cared for at a Sea Turtle Hospital in Quincy.
A 350lb adult male loggerhead #SeaTurtle was saved on the beaches of Truro yesterday afternoon thanks to @MassAudubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and Truro DPW! The turtle is now being cared for at our Sea Turtle Hospital in Quincy. 🐢 #SeaTurtleRescue pic.twitter.com/fgZiyXDzZA
— New England Aquarium (@NEAQ) November 21, 2020
Get Boston.com's browser alerts:
Enable breaking news notifications straight to your internet browser.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com