KidScoop.com

Just Plain Weird

Sea Turtle Rescue

While a deadly winter storm has caused much suffering throughout Texas, one population in particular has become seriously endangered.

South Padre Island in Southern Texas is home to a large population of sea turtles.

The unseasonable cold caused the turtles to lose body heat and decline into a state called “hypothermic shock’ where their heart rate slows and they become comatose. In this state they are targets for predators as they float in the water unable to move.

A huge community effort of local volunteers has worked together to help save the turtles. Led by SeaTurtle, Inc. people have collected turtles and transported them to the South Island Convention Center where the turtles lie on tarps and in kiddie pools in the hope they can regain their body heat and be released once the temperatures improve.

So far the volunteers have collected over 3,500 turtles.

Source: The Washington Post