On February 4, 2024, our team was alerted to a loggerhead sea turtle in distress, found floating in a kelp bed in the cold waters near Pedder Bay, about 40 minutes from Victoria, BC. The turtle, now nicknamed Moira, was in a critical state when discovered, prompting an immediate response from local authorities and marine biologists.
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Facilitated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and led by Marine Biologist Dr. Anna Hall, the rescue operation saw Moira swiftly transferred to our Rescue Centre hospital. Upon her arrival, it was clear Moira was cold-stunned, with a body temperature of just 8.4 degrees—far below the normal range for loggerheads, which is between 20-25 degrees. Her condition was precarious.
Moira is under continuous care, with our team focusing on gradually raising her body temperature a degree or two at a time. This process is critical for her survival, as reptiles like Moira depend entirely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature. When sea turtles find their way into cold water, their body temperature gets too low for normal physiologic functions; this is known as cold-stunning. Everything slows down: heart and respiration rates, they can’t swim, they can’t forage, and they get weaker and weaker.
This incident marks only the second time a loggerhead sea turtle has been reported in BC waters, highlighting the rarity of such events and the importance of swift conservation efforts. Loggerhead sea turtles are a federally protected species in the USA, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 1978, underscoring the significance of Moira's rescue and rehabilitation.
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