Lucky isn’t your average sea turtle. He’s a critically endangered Kemp’s ridley turtle that washed up on the rocky shoreline of Halifax, Nova Scotia last fall. In a word: brrrrrr. Fortunately, he was rescued and rehabilitated by the Canadian Sea Turtle Network: the first time in Canadian history a cold-stunned Kemp’s ridley has survived!
When Lucky was ready to return to the ocean, the search began for a rehabilitation facility in a much warmer climate, with an animal hospital, specialized veterinary care and experience with turtle releases. Atlantis Paradise Island checked all those boxes (and more) and on February 24, Lucky arrived.
How the Journey Began
Lucky most likely hatched on a beach somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico, where large groups of female Kemp’s ridleys gather offshore and come onto the beach to nest all at once. From there, the tiny turtle would make its way into the ocean and find refuge among floating sargassum algae, where it would begin to feed on small animals and plants. After its shell, or “carapace,” had grown to about eight inches, it would migrate to nearshore areas in the Gulf or up into the northwestern Atlantic Ocean.
Deadly Cold Waters
Sometimes, juvenile sea turtles aren’t strong enough to navigate winds and tides and get pushed too far north, too late in the year. When water temperatures drop, these turtles become “cold-stunned,” meaning they are weak, immobile and float on top of the water. The waves often strand them on shore. In Halifax, where Lucky was found, it’s very rare for any sea turtle to survive the ordeal.
Emergency Rescue, Miraculous Recovery
Against all odds, Lucky was spotted and taken in by the Canadian Sea Turtle Network, whose 600 volunteers comb the rocky coastline from October through March each year, looking for turtles in trouble. For several months, the turtle (who’s too young to determine gender) rehabilitated under the care of a veterinarian, and not only survived but flourished. It was finally time to send Lucky back to the ocean.
A Wild Trip to Paradise
The team was ready for their trip to Atlantis on February 24, but the weather had other ideas. Halifax received nearly 12 inches of snow that day with wind gusts up to 60 mph. But luck was on their side, and after 2,700 miles from Halifax to Toronto to The Bahamas, the group touched down and met our team at the airport. Lucky boarded our SeaKeepers rescue vehicle, was driven to Atlantis and arrived at our Fish and Turtle Hospital. The next day, our veterinarian and aquarist team conducted a proper intake: measurements, weight, physical exam and blood tests.
Today, Lucky is healthy, and we will continue to care for our special guest until our veterinary team determines Lucky is ready to be released in warm Bahamian waters.