New Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility Opens at Aquarium of the Pacific

New Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility

• 🐢 A new sea turtle rehabilitation facility has opened at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.
• 💡 Visitors can see rescued sea turtles undergoing recovery in this new exhibit.

A Green Sea Turtle's Story

• 💚 The facility features a green sea turtle, estimated to be 15-20 years old, who has been in care since March.
• 🎣 This turtle was rescued after becoming entangled in fishing gear, resulting in severe damage that required the amputation of one flipper.
• ✅ Despite having only three flippers, the turtle is expected to be able to return to the wild.

Enhanced Rehabilitation Capacity

• 📈 The new facility allows the aquarium to double the number of sea turtles they can house at any given time.
• 📍 This makes it one of only two such facilities in Southern California equipped with specialized enclosures and veterinary staff.

Sea Turtle Care and Nutrition

• 🥬 Sea turtles are primarily vegetarians, feeding on seagrass in the wild. At the facility, they are given prepared foods like Romaine lettuce for nutrition.
• ⚖️ The green sea turtle currently weighs approximately 125 pounds but can grow to over 300-400 pounds.

Visiting the Facility

• 🎟️ Reservations are required to visit the new sea turtle rehabilitation area.
• 🏥 The facility includes a surgical area and relies on volunteers to support the rehabilitation efforts.