NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) — Two endangered sea turtles that washed ashore on the north Oregon coast in stormy weather have been moved to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport. Both turtles are extremely cold and in critical condition.
The turtles were found Monday at Seaside and at Gearhart.
The Newport aquarium’s Jim Burke says a Green Sea Turtle has been responsive but an Olive Ridley Sea Turtle has remained unresponsive. Aquarium staffers are administering fluids, and warming the air around the turtles’ bodies to raise their core temperature. Burke says that is a slow process. On Tuesday, both animals’ temperatures were in the low 50s, while normal would be in the 70s.
Both species are on the endangered list. The goal is to rehabilitate the female turtles and release them.