Since the 14th, 4,500 animals rescued
Rescuer: "An unprecedentedly large number of individuals fainted"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Thousands of sea turtles that fainted due to a record-breaking cold wave in Texas, USA, have been rescued.
According to the AP News on the 17th (local time), the nonprofit organization 'Sea Turtle, Inc.' began discovering sea turtles that had fainted due to the cold wave starting from the 14th, and has rescued about 4,500 turtles so far. Among the discovered sea turtles, some were reported to be over 150 years old. Wendy Knight, Secretary-General of 'Sea Turtle, Inc.', said, "This is the first time in several decades that we have seen so many sea turtles faint," adding, "We are very concerned as some of these sea turtles may not survive."
The officials transported the fainted sea turtles from the beach to nearby public facilities such as the South Padre Island Convention Center by vehicle. It is known that more than 3,500 sea turtles are being kept at this convention center alone.
A representative from the South Padre Island Convention Center told AP News in an interview that "a truck full of sea turtles arrives every 15 minutes," and "each truck carries up to 100 turtles." They also added, "Since it is uncertain when the cold wave will subside, it is difficult to predict when these sea turtles can be released back into the sea." As of the afternoon of that day, the temperature in the area was recorded at 4 degrees Celsius, far below the optimal temperature of 15 degrees Celsius for sea turtles to live.
SpaceX, a space development company with a launch site in the nearby area, also participated in the sea turtle rescue. During the widespread power outage caused by the cold wave, the convention center also lost power, but SpaceX provided generators that restored electricity. Secretary-General Knight said, "The sea turtles were almost dying from the cold in the power-out building," and "thanks to the generators provided by SpaceX, we were able to restore power and maintain an appropriate temperature for the sea turtles."
Meanwhile, as cold-blooded animals, sea turtles cannot regulate their own body temperature and are therefore sensitive to cold weather such as cold waves. When the water temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius, sea turtles enter a so-called 'cold-stunning' state where they are conscious but unable to move. At this time, the risk of death increases due to injuries from collisions with floating debris or drowning.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), five species of sea turtles, including green turtles, loggerhead turtles, and Kemp's ridley turtles, inhabit Texas, all of which are classified as endangered species.
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