BOSTON — A Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod aircraft crew flew five cold-stunned Loggerhead Turtles to Miami Wednesday.
The Coast Guard worked in partnership with the New England Aquarium and NOAA to ensure the sick, stressed turtles were safely transported to a warmer climate.
The turtles, some weighing close to 100 pounds, were loaded aboard an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft early Wednesday and flown to Coast Guard Air Station Miami where they were met by Miami Seaquarium personnel.
"The most important thing is that the temperature for these turtles stay between 68 and 75 degrees during transport," said Kate Sampson, a sea turtle stranding and disentanglement coordinator with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
All sea turtles in the United States are protected under the Endangered Species Act.