Saving Sea Turtles at the South Carolina Aquarium
Sea turtles are a threatened and endangered species that highlight the many pressing issues surrounding coastal development and ocean conservation. To help ensure that sea turtles have a future in our oceans, the South Carolina Aquarium uses its facilities to aid sick and injured sea turtles through its Sea Turtle Rescue Program. When an unhealthy sea turtle is found along the coast, it is brought to the Sea Turtle Hospital by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) where animal care staff can begin to monitor and treat the animal in this state-of-the-art facility. The Sea Turtle Hospital admits 10 to 20 sea turtles each year.
Sea turtles arrive with a variety of problems, including bacterial and fungal infections, shock from being exposed to cold temperatures, and wounds from boat strikes and shark bites. A full-time veterinarian is on staff to diagnose each turtle and, with the help of hospital staff and volunteers, to provide treatments and rehabilitative care.
The average length of stay for a sea turtle in rehabilitation is 7-8 months. When a turtle is deemed healthy enough to survive on its own, it is brought to a local beach to be returned to the ocean where it can rejoin the sea turtle population and help to maintain their species through reproduction.
According to SCDNR, over the last 10 years, the average number of sea turtle strandings on South Carolina beaches each year is 133. Of these, roughly 10% are alive and successfully transported to the Sea Turtle Hospital. To date the South Carolina Aquarium has successfully rehabilitated and released 43 sea turtles and is currently treating 13 patients. The average cost for a patient’s treatment is $43 a day with the average length of stay reaching nine months.
Behind-the-Scenes-Tours of the Sea Turtle Hospital are offered at the South Carolina Aquarium weekly at 11:30 am and 1 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit scaquarium.org or call 843-577-FISH.