Volunteers at the sea turtle hospital in Topsail Island are hoping the New Year will be a healthy one for injured turtles. The hospital is nearly at capacity with more than 40 injured sea turtles, many who were stunned by the sudden cold weather. Officials said their New Year”s wish is to get them well and return them to the sea, and prepare for the ground breaking on a larger hospital.
“We are aiming toward a new facility in 2009 and do the very best we can to protect these animals, teach people about them, medicate them and get them well to get them back into the ocean,” said turtle hospital director, Jean Beasley.
Around twenty turtles will be ready to be released within the next few weeks in the gulf.
(From wwaytv3.com – North Carolina, USA)