Harrison County

These sea turtles were stunned by New England’s cold water. They’ll rehab in South Mississippi.

The Gulfport–Biloxi International Airport sees thousands of passengers every year. On Monday it welcomed some unique travelers, as 35 endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, packed in banana boxes, arrived in style on a private plane operated by non-profit Turtles Fly Too, which transports endangered species.

The turtles, sent by the New England Aquarium, will be rehabilitated by the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and the Mississippi Aquarium after they washed ashore cold-stunned.

Veterinary students and faculty from Mississippi State University will assist the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies with rehabilitating the 25 turtles they received. The Mississippi Aquarium received 10 turtles Monday, bringing the total number of Kemp’s Ridley turtles in their care up to over 50 after receiving 42 turtles earlier this month.

According to NOAA, cold-stunning happens when turtles are exposed to very cold water, leaving them lethargic and unable to swim. The turtles then often rise to the surface and float ashore. If they are not rescued, they could face more serious health problems or death.

After the turtles become healthy, they will be released into the Gulf of Mexico, their natural habitat.

According to Dr. Alexa Delaune, vice president of veterinary services at the Mississippi Aquarium, the turtles usually take a few months to recover and then are released when the weather is warm enough. In July of this year, IMMS and the Mississippi Aquarium released several turtles into the Gulf that they had started rehabilitating last December.

According to Delaune, last year saw one of the highest increases in cold stunned turtles. Moby Solangi, director and president of the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, noted that Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, who are already endangered, are becoming cold-stunned in higher numbers due to changes in weather patterns and temperatures caused by climate change.

As the turtles arrive at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS), Mississippi State students and IMMS workers write down the measurements and numbers of each turtle.
As the turtles arrive at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS), Mississippi State students and IMMS workers write down the measurements and numbers of each turtle. Hannah Ruhoff hruhoff@sunherald.com
Veterinary medicine students from Mississippi State form a chain to help carry the turtles from the airplane to a bus waiting to transport the turtles to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies at the Gulfport Airport in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021.
Veterinary medicine students from Mississippi State form a chain to help carry the turtles from the airplane to a bus waiting to transport the turtles to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies at the Gulfport Airport in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. Hannah Ruhoff hruhoff@sunherald.com
Zoe Dudiak, left, a second year veterinary student at Mississippi State and Callie Austin, a stranding technician at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, measure a turtle after it was brought in for rehabilitation at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021.
Zoe Dudiak, left, a second year veterinary student at Mississippi State and Callie Austin, a stranding technician at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, measure a turtle after it was brought in for rehabilitation at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. Hannah Ruhoff hruhoff@sunherald.com
A Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle pokes its head out of a box as it is taken off the airplane at the Gulfport Airport in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. The turtles, who were found cold-stunned in New England, will be rehabilitated in Gulfport by the Mississippi Aquarium and the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies.
A Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle pokes its head out of a box as it is taken off the airplane at the Gulfport Airport in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. The turtles, who were found cold-stunned in New England, will be rehabilitated in Gulfport by the Mississippi Aquarium and the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies. Hannah Ruhoff hruhoff@sunherald.com
Kelsey Busboom, center, lines a turtle up for an x-ray at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. Several x-rays are taken of the turtles, when they are brought in, from a high up angle, both side angles and a head on angle.
Kelsey Busboom, center, lines a turtle up for an x-ray at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. Several x-rays are taken of the turtles, when they are brought in, from a high up angle, both side angles and a head on angle. Hannah Ruhoff hruhoff@sunherald.com
Dr. Debra Moore, left, and Caitlyn Burke, center, of Mississippi State look inside the mouth of one of the sea turtles at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021.
Dr. Debra Moore, left, and Caitlyn Burke, center, of Mississippi State look inside the mouth of one of the sea turtles at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. Hannah Ruhoff hruhoff@sunherald.com
Dr. Caroline Betbeze, a veterinary ophthalmologist with the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State, looks into the eyes of one of the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. According to Betbeze, turtles have very sensitive eyes and even have a muscle behind their eye that can retract their eyes further into their heads.
Dr. Caroline Betbeze, a veterinary ophthalmologist with the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State, looks into the eyes of one of the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. According to Betbeze, turtles have very sensitive eyes and even have a muscle behind their eye that can retract their eyes further into their heads. Hannah Ruhoff hruhoff@sunherald.com
Veterinarians look at a burn mark a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle suffered from the cold at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. The turtle was one of 35 flown to Gulfport after being found cold-stunned in New England.
Veterinarians look at a burn mark a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle suffered from the cold at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. The turtle was one of 35 flown to Gulfport after being found cold-stunned in New England. Hannah Ruhoff hruhoff@sunherald.com
Steve Bernstein, right, a volunteer pilot for Turtles Fly Too, a non-profit that helps transport endangered species, hands Dr. Alexa Delaune, Vice President of veterinary services at the Mississippi Aquarium, a banana box containing a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle from an airplane at the Gulfport Airport in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021.
Steve Bernstein, right, a volunteer pilot for Turtles Fly Too, a non-profit that helps transport endangered species, hands Dr. Alexa Delaune, Vice President of veterinary services at the Mississippi Aquarium, a banana box containing a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle from an airplane at the Gulfport Airport in Gulfport on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. Hannah Ruhoff hruhoff@sunherald.com

This story was originally published December 21, 2021 at 3:46 PM.

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Hannah Ruhoff
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