Page 17 - Q02-2021_Fins-Magazine

the opportunity to adopt a resident, Three, in short bursts, adult sea
patient, or hatchling! turtles can reach speeds of up to 22
mph (miles per hour).
Thanks to the diversity of habitats
in the Gulf of Mexico, there are five And, four, their eggs cannot develop
local sea turtle species—Atlantic underwater, so females leave the
Greens, Loggerheads, Leatherbacks, ocean to lay their eggs on the
Hawksbills, and Kemp’s Ridley, the beach. Each nest can have around
last of which is the most critically 100 eggs, and each female can lay
endangered species in the world. multiple nests during a season.
South Padre is a barrier island. The
body of water between the Texas Sea Turtle Inc. is currently home Allison’s prosthetic is like a tail or
mainland and the island is called to four sea turtles deemed non- a fin that acts as a rudder to steer
Laguna Madre and is a hyper- releasable because they would and provides resistance against the
saline lagoon. This means the not survive if returned back in the water when she uses her remaining
water is shallow, warm, and very ocean. Hang Ten was identified front flipper. The prosthetic has
salty, resulting in an ecosystem in in a protected Kemp’s Ridley nest clips that lock onto her shell and has
which seagrass thrives, feeding and as a hatchling with a birth defect the ability to adjust as she grows.
protecting juvenile and adult sea on her front flipper. This gave the Every morning it is put on her, and
turtles. The local beaches are also appearance that she was giving the she goes out into her large tank,
important nesting grounds female “hang ten” hand sign, hence her and then every evening, it is taken
name. She was released with the off, and she sleeps in her shallow
rest of the hatchlings from her nest tank. Because of this prosthesis,
but was found washed up several Allison can maneuver and enjoy the
hours later. Eventually, she also deeper water of a large tank and
displayed difficulties diving and have a better quality of life.
hunting.

WORLD OCEAN DAY Gerry is an Atlantic Green Sea Turtle Nearly all sea turtle species are
now classified as endangered,
saved in 1980 by the founder of Sea
with three of the seven species
SEA OF VOICES Turtle Inc., Ila Fox Loetscher. Gerry considered. Originally, the decline
often traveled with handlers to make
many educational appearances and in populations was due to humans
hunting them for their meat and
spread conservation awareness, using their shells and skin, but that
Mermaid Leah visits sea turtles return to in order to lay but he became too socialized and is less common now. Today marine
their eggs.
dependent on humans.
Sea Turtle Inc Most sea turtles, on average, live Merry Christmas, found on the main concern. Climate change,
debris, garbage, and pollutants are
habitat loss, over-fishing, and unsafe
to learn about sea Turtles to between 60-70 years old, the Christmas Eve, is also an Atlantic fishing practices create dangerous
exception being Atlantic Green
Green Sea Turtle. She was found
conditions for sea turtles.
Sea Turtles, who can live to over
in a stunning cold event in the
100 years old. This is believed to early 1980s in which temperatures Pollution affects sea turtles and
be because of their main diet of dropped dramatically, causing all marine life by impacting the
seagrass and algae, which slows the turtles to go into hypothermic
BY: MERMAID MYSTIK LEAH | ©2021 BY MERMAID MYSTIK LEAH down their metabolism. Maturity shock and wash ashore. She also habitats they live in and the food
they eat.
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SEA TURTLE INC. and reproduction age varies in the displayed physical abnormalities
LOCATION: SEA TURTLE INC. various species, too. that rendered her non-releasable
SOUTH PADRES ISLAND, TX | SEATURTLEINC.ORG Generally, the larger the species at the time due to the possibility of
these traits being genetic.
Shello! My name is Mermaid is, the longer it takes to reach full Allison, another Atlantic Green Sea
maturity/adulthood. Most species
Mystik Leah and I had the honor of We learned all about sea turtles, the You can visit Sea Turtle Inc. to tour the mature between 20 and 30 years. Turtle, is particularly special. She
reporting live from Sea Turtle Inc. different species, what they like to facilities that house rehabilitating was stranded as a juvenile due to a
on World Ocean Day 2021. eat, how fast they can swim, how patients and non-releasable Here are some more interesting predator attack and survived with
long they live, how big they grow, residents. Educational “Turtle Talks” details about sea turtles: only one front flipper. Deemed non-
Sea Turtle Inc. is located on South when and where they build nests, are presented throughout the releasable, she initially spent her
Padre Island, Texas, near the Gulf and even discovered some fun and day, and you can watch residents One, they are cold-blooded reptiles days in a shallow tank swimming
of Mexico, where five of the seven interesting facts about the residents. enjoy their breakfast and patient- whose body temperature depends in circles. Wanting to improve
species of sea turtles live! Their We also exposed threats that enrichment feedings. If the timing on the temperature of their her quality of life, staff began
mission is to “educate the public, have endangered/threatenedsea is right, you may even be able environment. researching and creating several
rehabilitate injured turtles, and lead turtles, examined the reasons they to watch rehabilitated sea turtle prostheses designs.
with conservation efforts.” During become stranded, and talked about and hatchling releases! Sea Turtle Two, compared to freshwater turtles
the interview with Will Mahoney, Sea rehabilitation methods. Lastly and Inc. also offers many educational and tortoises, sea turtles cannot The first successful model was
Turtle Inc, Intern, we discussed the most importantly, we addressed programs such as classroom hide in their shells and actually use developed by an intern, Tom Wilson,
importance of diverse ecosystems what each of us can do in our activities, virtual learning, field trips, speed as a defense from predator in 2009, making Allison the first sea
and habitats that sustain sea turtle everyday lives to help our oceans summer camp, and you can even attacks. turtle in the world to have a working
populations. and marine life! watch live turtle cams. You also have prosthetic device!

16 fins-magazine.com fins-magazine.com 17