Texas State Aquarium’s Wildlife Rescue Center takes in 125 cold-stunned sea turtles

Texas State Aquarium’s Wildlife Rescue Center took in 125 cold-stunned sea turtles beginning Tuesday evening.

If the water dips below 46 degrees Fahrenheit turtles become stranded, said Giovanna Pena, the aquarium’s wildlife care coordinator for reptiles.

“There is a threshold in the water that the animals can stand,” Pena said. “Last night it went down to 39, so way below their threshold. They’re reptiles so they cannot regulate their own body heat.”

Recent arrivals, 10 Green Sea Turtles from Padre Island National Seashore, were transported to the aquarium in a cargo van by Turtle Lab volunteers on Wednesday afternoon.

The turtles were weighed and placed in a warming space, in a process known as dry docking, where they received medical attention from aquarium veterinarians and staff.

Animals with fibropapillomatosis or “FP,” a strain of herpesvirus that causes cauliflower-like tumors, are quarantined. Some are admitted for surgical intervention to remove papillomas.

In addition to turtles with FP, turtles with injuries or other medical issues are also admitted to the rescue center.

Once the otherwise healthy, rehabilitating turtles start flapping their fins in the dry dock, they’re placed in a temporary pool. If they swim normally, they’re cleared to be released when the Gulf warms above the 46 degree threshold.

“Hopefully once it gets more sunny, we’ll keep them for a couple days and release them back home,” Pena said.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Texas State Aquarium’s Wildlife Rescue Center takes in 125 cold-stunned sea turtles