04:56Shell shock: Stranded Cape Cod sea turtles rescued and treated for hypothermia
Volunteers and staff from Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary were seen patrolling the beaches of Cape Cod for stranded sea turtles suffering from hypothermia on Friday, for transfer and treatment at the New England Aquarium.
"We are over two hundred volunteers working on sea turtles. People walk the beaches and people are going out and getting banana boxes, washing towels [for turtles] and sometimes it really gets crazy and they bring us food," explained Bob Prescott, the sanctuary’s emeritus director.
Footage filmed on December 1 shows a volunteer on the beach, as well as sea turtles being carefully wrapped up and boxed for their journey to the laboratories in Boston. Workers inside the lab could be seen measuring and studying the turtles, before transferring them to the aquarium.
"Every turtle is kind of a treasure. And you are between the life and death of that turtle," said Bill Allan, one of the first volunteers, and also one of the oldest. "We're doing something that makes a difference and the species. Sea turtles are very special with very special traits and have had pretty bad luck mostly due to human activity."
While sea turtles have become trapped at the beaches since the 1970s, the numbers have increased steadily. According to the scientists, around 170 have been treated for hypothermia since November 18.
The turtles are gradually warmed up before being released into warmer waters or kept in the aquarium until the summer months.
04:56Volunteers and staff from Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary were seen patrolling the beaches of Cape Cod for stranded sea turtles suffering from hypothermia on Friday, for transfer and treatment at the New England Aquarium.
"We are over two hundred volunteers working on sea turtles. People walk the beaches and people are going out and getting banana boxes, washing towels [for turtles] and sometimes it really gets crazy and they bring us food," explained Bob Prescott, the sanctuary’s emeritus director.
Footage filmed on December 1 shows a volunteer on the beach, as well as sea turtles being carefully wrapped up and boxed for their journey to the laboratories in Boston. Workers inside the lab could be seen measuring and studying the turtles, before transferring them to the aquarium.
"Every turtle is kind of a treasure. And you are between the life and death of that turtle," said Bill Allan, one of the first volunteers, and also one of the oldest. "We're doing something that makes a difference and the species. Sea turtles are very special with very special traits and have had pretty bad luck mostly due to human activity."
While sea turtles have become trapped at the beaches since the 1970s, the numbers have increased steadily. According to the scientists, around 170 have been treated for hypothermia since November 18.
The turtles are gradually warmed up before being released into warmer waters or kept in the aquarium until the summer months.