Rescued Sea Turtles Arrive at the Greensboro Science Center

GREENSBORO, NC -- The Greensboro Science Center (GSC) has admitted 11 cold-stunned sea turtles for rehabilitation in collaboration with the North Carolina Aquariums and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

A sudden cold snap along North Carolina’s Outer Banks cold-stunned 159 sea turtles last week alone. Since December 20, 2019, the North Carolina Aquariums have processed 225 cold-stunned sea turtles, leading coastal rehabilitation centers to seek help from fellow qualified institutions, like the GSC.

The GSC’s Wiseman Aquarium is housing 11 green sea turtles until they are ready to be released back into the wild. The turtles were transported from the coast to Raleigh by colleagues at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, who are also assisting with rehabilitation efforts by admitting eight turtles of their own. GSC staff moved the 11 being housed in Greensboro from Raleigh to the GSC, where aquarium and veterinary teams will monitor the turtles, track their weight, and administer any necessary medical assistance.

Sarah Halbrend, the GSC’s Curator of Aquatics, says, "We are delighted to help support the NC Aquariums in our mutual goal of protecting endangered and threatened species. We appreciate the opportunity to work closely with like-minded facilities to rehabilitate these green sea turtles, allowing us to fulfill our role of promoting conservation through education and action. Our team is looking forward to the day we can release healthy green sea turtles back into the wild."

While the rescued sea turtles will not be on exhibit for guests to view, the GSC will post updates with photos and video on its Facebook page so everyone can follow their progress.

Facilities such as the Greensboro Science Center work in collaboration with other aquariums and federal agencies to help protect and preserve wild animals and their habitats. Efforts such as this sea turtle rescue are possible because of well-trained aquarists, properly equipped facilities, and global conservation networks.

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About the Greensboro Science Center

The Greensboro Science Center is a premier family attraction in North Carolina that offers the state's first accredited inland aquarium, a hands-on science museum, an accredited Animal Discovery Zoological Park, a state-of-the-art OmniSphere Theater, and SKYWILD, an animal-inspired treetop adventure park. The GSC is also NC's only dually accredited AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and AAM (American Alliance of Museums) science attraction – an honor only 14 attractions in the nation can claim. The Greensboro Science Center is located at 4301 Lawndale Drive in Greensboro and is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. For more information, visit www.greensboroscience.org.