The stranded turtle that was discovered by a member of the public on Friday 8th December, on Holywell Beach in Cornwall, has sadly died despite efforts to save it.
The juvenile Kemps Ridley turtle Lepidochelys kempii was receiving rehabilitation treatment at Newquay’s Blue Reef Aquarium.
Despite an encouraging initial response to treatment, the turtle’s injuries were likely too extensive and the turtle too weak to fully recover.
Curator Steve Matchett said “When the turtle arrived at the aquarium it was very weak from its ordeal, plus we could see that there was extensive damage to the shell. When turtles end up off course and enter colder waters, they can quickly become exhausted and are unable to feed as they get too cold. This greatly weakens the turtle and by the time they have washed ashore, sometimes receiving further injuries from collisions with shore-line rocks, they are de-hydrated and very weak.”
The Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay has successfully rescued and rehabilitated several marine turtles, with the most recent being a juvenile loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta that was released back into the wild in 2016.
If you find a stranded turtle or any other marine animal in distress, please report it to the British Divers Marine Life Rescue 24hr hotline 01825 765546.
Issued by Blue Reef Aquarium. For more information please contact Melissa Hallam, Steve Matchett or Lara Heaney on 01637 878134.
