More Than 500 Sea Turtles Have Been Saved On Cape Cod Beaches

Since November, rescuers from the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary have recovered 520 sea turtles from beaches in Cape Cod, making it the second largest year on record.

According to the Cape Cod Times, 1,200 sea turtles were stranded last year, and the majority of these turtles were born in Mexico and Texas.

The majority of these turtles that have been saved are Kemp's ridley turtles, which are one of the rarest species of the sea turtle and they are currently endangered.

Some of those that have survived are showing signs of pneumonia because they are sensitive to the cold.

Already, 21 sea turtles have been recovered from Cape Cod beaches since the start of the new year. Four of them were found alive, including two loggerhead sea turtles. The turtles that are recovered were taken to New England Aquarium’s Animal Care Center in Quincy for rehabilitation and eventual release.

With additional reporting by Sal Lopez