Shellshocked turtles washed up on UK beaches by storms
WINTER storms have led to a rise in the number of turtles being washed up on British beaches.
sixteen young sea turtles were found on the UK shoreline last month, three times more than the average for December.
The juveniles should have been enjoying balmy waters of 21C (70F) off the coast of Africa – instead of the nippy 6C (43F) off Britain.
But this year, thanks to the storms, after the turtles are born they are at the mercy of strong waves. When they are found, they are usually starving and suffering from hypothermia.
According to experts, storms Desmond, eva and Frank blowing in from the south are behind the turtle problem, which is the worst since 2008.
Gales buffeting the chilly waters off our coasts have a devastating effect on the turtles, who stop feeding at temperatures below 15C (59F) and shut down at 10C (50F). On December 23, a loggerhead turtle found near Worth Matravers in Dorset had to be put down because of its injuries. since then, three critically endangered Kemp’s ridley turtles have been found dead by walkers at West Bay, West Bexington and Kimmeridge in Dorset.
Any turtles that can be revived are flown to the Canary Islands, where they are rehabilitated at a special centre and released.
Four turtles have been washed up in the UK already this year, including a small young loggerhead at Gwythian, Cornwall, on January 6, who is still being cared for at Newquay Zoo.
The zoo’s general manager steve Matchett said: ‘He’s still going, which is a bit of a surprise for us because he was so weak. What we don’t know is if there is any long-term internal damage, so it’s pretty touch and go.’
Dr Peter Richardson, a spokesman for the Marine Conservation society, said: We are asking the public to be vigilant and report any turtles they see, even if they appear dead.’