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Roanoke Island Aquarium Takes In Cold-stunned Sea Turtles

WFAE | By Associated Press
Published December 22, 2019 at 2:12 PM EST
nc_aquarium_turtles.jpg
N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island
/
@NCAquariumRI/Facebook
The N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island's STAR Center is housing nearly 100 cold-stunned sea turtles.

MANTEO — Cold weather is causing a problem for some sea turtles off the North Carolina coast, and an aquarium has taken in dozens of them for treatment.

cold_sea_turtle.jpg
Credit N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island / @NCAquariumRI/Facebook
/
@NCAquariumRI/Facebook
The N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island's STAR Center is housing nearly 100 cold-stunned sea turtles.

TV station WVEC-TV reports 96 turtles were taken to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island after a drop in temperatures on Thursday and Friday. More are expected to be treated there in the coming days.

Dropping water temperatures can cause cold-stunning, a condition similar to hypothermia that makes turtles unable to swim properly.

The recovery process involves gradually warming the turtles up over a few days.

The Aquarium posted to Facebook that its STAR Center will be closed to the public starting Sunday to make more space for the chilly turtles. The rest of the aquarium is open. 

Charlotte Area
Associated Press
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