University of New England

90-pound Endangered Sea Turtle Undergoes Rehab at UNE’s Marine Science Center

A fairly large loggerhead sea turtle, named “Chomper” for his propensity to bite, arrived at the University of New England’s Marine Science Center Jan. 26, 2006 for rehabilitation from the New England Aquarium in Boston. The turtle was rescued from freezing to death in a Cape Cod Bay. There are five species of sea turtles in the North Atlantic Ocean and all are on the Endangered Species List.

Chomper will recuperate in a specially built 13,000-gallon tank and be fed a diet of herring, squid and shrimp. Sometime in the spring, if the animal is healthy, Chomper will be released off the Southern U.S. coast.

Loggerhead turtles, which are cold-blooded reptiles, often suffer extreme hypothermia when water temperatures drop in Cape Cod Bay. Cold-shocked turtles are often found on the surface of the water floating listlessly and may suffer from infections, emaciation, and frost bite and are also vulnerable to boat collisions.

This is the second turtle to be rehabilitated at UNE. Last year a young Kemp’s ridley sea turtle named "Fenway" was also rescued on Cape Cod. In late April, 2005, after a five-month stay at UNE, Fenway flew out of Logan Airport for the New Orleans Aquarium and eventual release.

UNE’s Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center is the only facility in Northern New England licensed by the National Marine Fisheries Service to rehabilitate sea turtles.

(Press release issued Jan. 30, 2006)