MARATHON, Fla. (AP) - Staff members at the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital are caring for 30 endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles suffering from hypothermia days after they were rescued from a frigid beach on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Hospital officials said Wednesday that each cold-stunned turtle had a full physical examination, X-rays, a swimming test and was administered intravenous fluids and Vitamin D. Hospital staff is endeavoring to slowly raise the reptiles' body temperatures with the goal of releasing them once they are deemed healthy enough to return to the wild.
Some of the turtles have secondary issues including head trauma and pneumonia.
The 30 are a portion of 193 flown to Orlando by the U.S. Coast Guard Tuesday evening with the balance going to four other Florida-based marine animal rehabilitation centers.
