Sea Turtle Rescue and Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Sea turtle rehabilitation addresses welfare emergencies from entanglement, pollution, cold stunning, and disease, with the goal of successful wild release.

Key Facts

All seven sea turtle species are listed as threatened or endangered
Cold stunning causes thousands of sea turtle welfare emergencies annually in the US
Fibropapillomatosis tumors affect large proportions of some green turtle populations
Ingested plastic is found in over half of sea turtles examined post-mortem
Successful sea turtle rehabilitation programs achieve release rates of 50-70%

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtle welfare emergencies are largely human-caused: fishing gear entanglement, plastic ingestion, boat strikes, pollution, and climate-related cold stunning events represent the main drivers of rehabilitation need. The welfare of turtles during rehabilitation requires specialized facilities maintaining appropriate water temperatures, salinity, and tank sizes. Long-term rehabilitation can be traumatic for these wild animals, and welfare-centered programs minimize handling and stimulation while maximizing medical outcomes.

What You Can Do

Support sea turtle rehabilitation centers through donations or volunteering
Reduce single-use plastic use to decrease ocean plastic burden
Report stranded or injured sea turtles to appropriate local authorities
Choose seafood from fisheries with low sea turtle bycatch
Support shade structures on nesting beaches to prevent temperature-based sex skew