Westhampton nonprofit helps cold stunned sea turtles from around East Coast
They are one of only two turtle rehabilitation organizations in the state.
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Turtles in need found all along the East Coast are being brought to Long Island for help.
The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) works to rehabilitate the cold-stunned and injured sea turtles.
"When a sea turtle becomes hypothermic, they basically slow down. They become lethargic. They don't eat…” said chief scientist Rob DiGiovanni. “So we have to get them back up to what we call operating speed."
They built a facility in Westhampton Beach in 2020 after COVID-19 shrank scientists' ability to respond to sea life in need. It's one of only two turtle rehabilitation organizations in the state.
"The key is how do we get up to them as quickly as possible,” DiGiovanni said. “Because without intervention it would definitely be fatal."
The team got 25 sea turtles from Massachusetts in December, including Mimosa, who was released earlier this week.
Mimosa was their 112th rehabilitated sea turtle.
"You can get attached to the animals and being able to see them progress through their rehabilitation...” said DiGiovanni. “So it's kind of mixed emotions.”
