One of the World’s Rarest Turtles Washes Up in Texas, Covered in Living Organisms and in Desperate Need of Help

need to know

• A critically endangered Kemp’s ridley turtle was rescued after being found covered in organisms in Texas

• The turtle is currently under the care of veterinarians at the Gulf Sea Turtle Research Center and the Houston Zoo

• “We are hopeful for her recovery and eventual release back into the bay,” officials said.

A sea turtle that appeared to be covered in green fur left beachgoers scratching their heads after it washed up on a beach in Texas. Rescuers were called to the scene and were shocked to discover that the turtle belonged to one of the rarest species in the world.

Rescuers were called to a beach near Galveston on Saturday, March 7, after reports of an adult female Cantonese sea turtle stranded, the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research (GCSTR) said in a social media post.

Rescuers found the turtle lethargic and weighed down by organisms clinging to other creatures. Her shell and body were also covered in barnacles, algae and sediment, signs she may have been struggling for some time, researchers told Chron, digital home houston chronicle.

GCSTR Director Christopher Marshall told the Chron the stranded sea turtle’s slow swimming may have affected her health and left her stranded on the beach.

“A healthy sea turtle is a swimming sea turtle,” Marshall explained to Texas Press. “Sea turtles that slow down their swimming speed due to health problems are quickly colonized by organisms in the water. This can become a positive feedback loop, as the extra weight causes the turtle to slow down further and expend more energy, allowing more surface organisms to grow.”

GCSTR said the turtle was rescued and taken to the Houston Zoo for an emergency veterinary examination before being transported to the organization’s rehabilitation hospital.

“The turtle is in critical condition but is receiving the best possible care thanks to the Houston Zoo’s veterinary partners and our dedicated team of hospital staff, volunteers and students,” Marshall said.

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The world’s smallest sea turtle species and the official state turtle of Texas are most commonly found in the gulf waters surrounding Texas, according to NOAA Fisheries.

The species typically has a triangular head and a slightly hooked beak, and the female lays her eggs on land. They are thought to reach maturity at around 13 years of age, but are expected to live at least 30 years.

The Camp’s turtle is also listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The species faces habitat degradation, fishing, boat and marine debris problems. The species is one of the rarest sea turtle species, with an estimated population of 22,300 adults, and is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Beachside rescues like this are not uncommon in Texas. The Chron reports that GCSTR treated a juvenile loggerhead sea turtle that was also stranded and covered in marine life.

Both NOAA and GCSTR recommend that anyone who encounters a stranded, injured or entangled sea turtle contact professional responders and scientists who can take appropriate action, such as the Texas Statewide Hotline at 1-866-TURTLE-5.

GCSTR also said its work is funded through donations and said members of the public who want to support the care of the newly rescued sea turtles can do so by purchasing supplies from the center’s Amazon wish list.

“We are hopeful for her recovery and eventual release back into the bay,” GCSTR added of the rescued turtle.

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