Volunteers In Texas Are Saving Thousands Of Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles From The Storm

[Elderberry]

WAMU 88.5 by Rachel Treisman 2/17/2021

Volunteers In Texas Are Saving Thousands Of Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles From The Storm


Some of the thousands of cold-stunned sea turtles rescued in South Padre Island, Texas. Volunteers are continuing to rescue
the creatures amid freezing temperatures and widespread power outages.

Volunteers in coastal Texas have rescued thousands of sea turtles from frigid waters and shores during the historic winter storm and are working creatively to house them as much of the region remains without power.

Sea Turtle, Inc., a nonprofit education, rehabilitation and conservation organization in South Padre Island, Texas, has taken in nearly 4,500 sea turtles since Sunday, according to Executive Director Wendy Knight. She told NPR that local volunteers have been retrieving the turtles by boat and on foot and that the organization has been able to accommodate them with assistance from the community, including from the local government and SpaceX, which has a launch site nearby.

“The love and support of people who just want to help things that can’t help themselves is overwhelming,” Knight said.

As of Wednesday morning, Knight said, the floor of Sea Turtle, Inc.’s facility was covered in bins containing some 500 rescues. The city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau donated the use of the South Padre Island Convention Centre, which Knight said is currently housing the other approximately 4,000 in a combination of tarps, kiddie pools and boxes “lined up tip to toe.”

More: https://wamu.org/story/21/02/17/volunteers-in-texas-are-saving-thousands-of-cold-stunned-sea-turtles-from-the-storm/

[Elderberry]

SpaceX comes Through for Sea Turtles!

Publish0x by Cje95 2/17/2021

https://www.publish0x.com/texas-living/spacex-comes-through-for-sea-turtles-xzwpemr

Sea Turtle Inc had been without power for over 24 hours and was having to evacuate sea turtles from their tanks. They also have had to deal with over 2,500 sea turtles who were cold shocked and the city allowed them to use the convention center for all of the turtles! Since my last post they also have also run out of water but the power issue has been solved!

SpaceX sent over a team of engineers and other workers to install very very large generators for Sea Turtle Inc to use. They were also able to look over Sea Turtle Inc equipment and had to break the news to them it has all gotten fried with the weather. This was a huge improvement for Sea Turtle Inc and allows them to provide much much better care to the turtles that have so far washed ashore or been found floating.

Hopefully power to the island is restored soon so that water can also be returned to the island! It’s a rough time out their for everyone involved!

Here is a link to the most recent update! https://www.facebook.com/209633949077042/posts/5372170602823325/