ATLANTA — Eight loggerhead sea turtles are making waves at the Georgia Aquarium after being rescued from a chilly predicament along the East Coast.
The turtles, stranded due to "cold-stunning," arrived in Atlanta on Thursday courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Turtles Fly Too.
Cold-stunning, which leaves turtles too frozen to flipper, occurs when their body temperatures drop in cold waters, rendering them immobile. Without a little turtle TLC, this condition can be fatal. Aquarium staff are giving these shell-shocked travelers a warm welcome and the care they need to come out of their shells before an expected release in the spring.
Loggerhead turtles, listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, are swimming in protection laws, requiring special permits for handling. If you see a turtle in trouble, don’t clam up—contact your local stranding network.
