"Rescued Green Sea Turtle with Over 1 ½ Pounds of Barnacles Undergoes Rehabilitation at North Carolina Aquarium"

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"Rescued Green Sea Turtle with Over 1 ½ Pounds of Barnacles Undergoes Rehabilitation at North Carolina Aquarium"

[!CDATA[A juvenile female green sea turtle was discovered stranded on a North Carolina beach with over 1 ½ pounds of barnacles and other organisms on its shell, as announced by seashore officials. The turtle was found on April 15 at Cape Hatteras National Seashore and reported to the stranding hotline. The seashore's resource management team transported the turtle to the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center at the North Carolina Aquarium of Roanoke Island for examination and cleaning. Upon examination, the turtle was found to be covered in a heavy load of epibiota, including barnacles, algae, and other sea creatures. Initially weighing over 7 ½ pounds, the turtle's weight decreased to just over 6 pounds after the organisms were cleaned off, resulting in the removal of over 1.5 pounds of epibiota. Epibiota are organisms that live on other creatures, some of which can be harmful to marine life, affecting the turtle's ability to travel and swim. The green sea turtle is now in the care of the aquarium and showing signs of improvement. The removal of the organisms has made the turtle more active and on the path to recovery. The seashore encourages individuals who encounter wildlife in distress to contact their hotline at (252) 216-6892. In conclusion, the green sea turtle found stranded on a North Carolina beach with a significant amount of epibiota on its shell has been rescued and is undergoing rehabilitation at the STAR Center. The removal of the organisms has already shown positive effects on the turtle's health and well-being, highlighting the importance of prompt action in assisting wildlife in need.]]