Overview
- A bystander found the adult female on March 7 near Beach Pocket Park #3 in Galveston and called the Texas statewide sea turtle hotline at 1-866-TURTLE-5, prompting a GCSTR rescue.
- Responders reported the turtle was lethargic and heavily fouled with barnacles, algae and sediment, a sign of prolonged illness that can worsen as added weight slows swimming.
- After an emergency evaluation at the Houston Zoo, the turtle was transferred to GCSTR’s rehab hospital, where she is receiving antibiotics, pain medication and close daily care.
- GCSTR says the patient is beginning to move more and show increased energy, though she remains in critical condition and may need considerable time to regain weight and health.
- In a separate development on March 11, 27 Kemp’s ridley turtles rehabilitated after Cape Cod cold-stunning were released back into the Gulf in Mississippi by the Audubon Institute.