Animal Blog
Monterey Bay Aquarium Receives Tiny Loggerhead Turtle
December 20, 2012
Tis the season for long flights to see family and lugging precious gifts from East Coast to West is the name of the game, but no homebound holiday traveler is in possession of package quite like Monterey Bay Aquarium Curator Steve Vogel.
On his way back from the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, Vogel is in charge of a small cooler housing a young loggerhead sea turtle hatchling that, pending a veterinary check, will be on display in MBA’s Open Sea galleries as early as Friday.
The tiny turtle is one of nine rescued from North Carolina beaches and on loan to zoos and aquariums around the U.S. At just over four inches long and weighing in at less than half a pound, the plan is to house the turtles until they are old enough to be released. Full grown loggerheads can weigh as much as 250 pounds and the species range is dispersed throughout the temperate seas of the world.
As MBA moves closer to unveiling a new exhibit highlighting the threats sea turtles face in the wild, with a spotlight on unsustainable fishing practices, the new addition looks to play a key role as an ambassador for sea turtle conservation.
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