New England Aquarium Continues to Treat Cold-Stunned Turtles

The New England Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital is continuing to treat live cold-stunned sea turtles from Cape Cod.

According to a New England Aquarium news release issued on Wednesday, March 11, the aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital in Quincy, Massachusetts, has treated a total of 473 live turtles that have washed onto beaches along Cape Cod Bay from early November to late December 2025. 

During the triage phase, turtles arrive at the facility in critical condition from hypothermia and related conditions. Once hospital staff stabilizes the turtles for treatment, the focus shifts to long-term care, which is more geared toward helping the turtles heal from various lung, joint, and shell infections.

According to the New England Aquarium, staff, volunteers, and interns traditionally name the turtles receiving long-term care, and this year, the team chose to typeface names as inspiration. The group includes critically endangered Kemp's ridleys “Cavolini” and “Franklin,” green sea turtles “Verdana” and “Chunk,” and loggerheads “Pretty Princess” and “Helvetica.”

The aquarium noted that many of the turtles have been diagnosed with severe pneumonia, accompanied by deep plastron wounds, joint and bone infections, and various shell fractures.

While many stabilized turtles have been moved to secondary rehabilitation facilities to make space for new arrivals, 58 of the turtles in need of more critical care have remained at the Sea Turtle Hospital to continue receiving treatment.

“These turtles have overcome incredible health challenges and continue to demonstrate their amazing healing capacities while responding to our treatment regimens and husbandry care. We continuously learn from these animals, adapting new treatment approaches for various severe ailments,” said Dr. Kathy Tuxbury, senior veterinarian, in the release.