Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release
Turtle rescue, rehabilitation and release program
We have been involved in rescuing, releasing and rehabilitating turtles at Weymouth SEA LIFE Park. In 2007 we helped rehabilitate an extremely rare Kemp’s Ridley turtle called Willie. She had drifted off course and ended up off the coast of Devon, suffering from exhaustion. She was brought to the Park where she was looked after by our experienced animal care team. She was released in 2009 off the coast of North Carolina where her breed is commonly found.
More recently we have taken on the long term care of 5 disabled Green Sea Turtles, called Gumbo, Ali, Cracker, Sharkey and Josie. All 5 Turtles were donated to us by the Florida Turtle Hospital because they needed to free up space for newly admitted turtles. Sadly, due to their disabilities, all of them are considered un-releasable and will therefore live out their remaining life in our purpose-built turtle sanctuary.
While with us they will also provide a strong educational tool to highlight their plight in the wild.
To learn more about Turtle rescue, rehabilitation and release program, please email: slcweymouth@merlinentertainments.biz
SEA LIFE Conservation
The rescue and rehabilitation of turtles is one of SEA LIFE Conservation’s main focuses. You can support this cause just by visiting one of our our aquariums or sanctuaries.
Threats to turtles:
- Marine litter. Turtles often ingest plastic bags that they mistake for their favourite food, jelly fish.
- Humans and tourism affects turtles when development influences or takes over their breeding grounds and nesting sites.
- The international trade in Turtles as pets.
- Marine pollutants can cause debilitating tumours.
- Fishing nets that are not fitted with Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs).