JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Two dozen Kemp's ridley sea turtles are currently undergoing rehabilitation in Florida after experiencing frostbite, pneumonia, and abrasions from the frigid waters off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The 24 endangered sea turtles were transported to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach on December 9, thanks to the nonprofit organization LightHawk. This marks a return for the center, which welcomed a similar group of cold-stunned turtles last year, all of which were later released into the Atlantic.

These turtles are expected to remain at the Loggerhead facility until the spring, when they will be released back into the Atlantic Ocean to resume their migration toward New England. Dr. Heather Barron, the chief science officer and veterinarian at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, noted that the turtles are suffering from a condition known as cold stunning, which necessitates treatment involving antibiotics, fluids, and nebulization.

Cold stunning is a phenomenon that affects cold-blooded sea turtles in extremely frigid temperatures, rendering them lethargic and immobile. It primarily impacts species such as Kemp's ridley, loggerhead, and green sea turtles. During the summer, these turtles migrate north, but many become stranded while attempting to return south through the hooked peninsula of Cape Cod. As ocean temperatures drop, they can become lethargic, emaciated, and hypothermic, ultimately washing ashore where volunteers rescue them and transport them to sea turtle hospitals.

In response to overcrowding at the New England Aquarium, some of the turtles were sent to Florida. Pam Bechtold Snyder, director of marketing and communications for the Boston facility, explained that many of these turtles were stranded during a robust westerly wind event on November 28 and underwent a triage process before being transferred. So far, the annual cold-stunning phenomenon, which began on November 7, has seen the treatment of 472 hypothermic turtles at the Boston facility.

The hospital staff collaborates with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Fisheries Service to facilitate the transfer of these turtles to various sea turtle hospitals, including Loggerhead. According to Dr. Barron, "These guys are very critically ill when they get here, and they are undergoing extensive treatment." This treatment includes nebulization, wherein the turtles breathe in medication to assist their lung function.

As the turtles arrive in groups at Loggerhead, the staff assigns them names based on a specific theme. In this case, the theme for the current group is Greek mythology, with names including Pandora, Gaia, Persephone, and Helios.

As the turtles continue their recovery, Loggerhead Marinelife Center remains committed to their rehabilitation and eventual release, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by sea turtles due to climate conditions and human intervention.