Thousands of Sea Turtles Cold Stunned in Texas

Thousands of sea turtles in Texas are in danger due to the uncharacteristically cold weather sweeping the state. Volunteers are taking the “cold-stunned” turtles to shelter.

The thousands of turtles are being stored in a convention center for safekeeping, according to PEOPLE. “This is by far the largest cold-stunning event that we’ve documented in Texas,” Dr. Donna Shaver, Texas Coordinator of the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network, told PEOPLE. “It’s a big deal.”

Source: Reuters/YouTube

According to the National Park Service. because sea turtles are cold-blooded, they can’t regulate their body temperature. Therefore, when water temperatures creep below 50 degrees, they become hypothermic and cannot swim, the phenomenon called “cold-stunning.”

Turtles that live in Laguna Madre, as well as Corpus Christi Bay, Matagorda Bay, and Galveston Bay in southeast Texas, are all in danger of cold-stunning.

Source: World Animal Awareness Society/YouTube

Volunteers have helped rescue turtles. One volunteer shared that over 1,000 turtles were saved in a single day!

“When I first started, I read about how the green turtle numbers were decimated in Texas due to over harvest and freezes during the late 1800s,” Shaver says. “Luckily, as opposed to the 1800s… back then, nobody saved them. So we’ve done what we could to save as many as we can.”

To help sea turtles in Texas, you can donate to Sea Turtle, Inc.

Read more about the current weather in Texas in One Green Planet.

Related Content:

• Numerous Animals Dead and Displaced Following Massive Flooding in India
• The PREPARED Act Will Ensure Animals are Protected From Natural Disasters
• “It Doesn’t Matter if the House is Dirty, It Can be Cleaned” Says Man Who Kept Hundreds of Animals Safe During Hurricane Delta in Mexico
• 47 Goats and a Brood of Hens Were Saved From Floods in India By Five Hero Dogs!
• Animal Rescue League in Iowa Saves Over 40 Dogs During Winter Storm

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Also, don’t forget to download the Food Monster App on iTunes — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest meatless, vegan, and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!