As stranding season begins, the SC Aquarium reports increasing admissions to its Sea Turtle Care Center. Recently, seven sea turtle patients were taken in for medical attention.
“It’s clear that sea turtles have arrived along the SC coast and are facing some unforgiving impacts out there,” says Sea Turtle Care Center manager Melissa Ranly. All seven species of sea turtles rescued are listed as threatened or endangered. Ranly wants to remind folks of the link between the water, wildlife, wild places, and humans. The aquarium says it’s a reflection of the growing issues surrounding coastal development and ocean conservation.
Did you know you can see the Aquarium’s biologists, veterinarians, and volunteers in action? Guests can come face-to-face with current sea turtle patients, read their stories, and learn how to help protect them.
To help the community connect with the turtles, they’re given fun names, and this year’s theme is breakfast foods.
Meet the turtle patients being rehabilitated.
- Hashbrown, a juvenile green sea turtle
- Biscuit, a juvenile green sea turtle
- Eleanor, a juvenile green sea turtle
- Strudel, a juvenile green sea turtle
- Frittata, a juvenile green sea turtle
- Poptart, a juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtle
- Pancake, a juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtle