The Sea Life Centre in Brighton has opened a new rehabilitation facility for rescuing and caring for sea turtles.
Bill arrived in Brighton last year and is now receiving specialized care at the new centre, made possible by a £50,000 donation from the Sea Life Trust. Curator Joe Williams expresses his hope that Bill will soon be able to return to her home waters.
To aid her recovery, human contact is limited for Bill. She underwent x-rays, blood tests, and is following a special food plan designed to prepare her for life in the wild. The Royal Navy may even provide assistance.
Turtles found in UK waters often suffer from hypothermia, and warming them up is a delicate process. Once warm enough, Bill can eat, helping her regain lost energy. Experts carefully monitor her calorie intake to ensure she receives the proper nourishment.
Bill’s meals are designed to mimic her natural diet. Joe’s team cleverly hides food under rocks, encouraging her to forage as she would in the wild. The facility is also equipped to create waves and alter water levels, helping Bill readjust for her eventual return to the ocean.
Joe emphasizes that the UK has lacked a dedicated turtle rescue centre, and he is pleased to be able to aid in their recovery and eventual release. He notes that climate change is causing increased turtle appearances in UK waters, with only Leatherbacks being native.
Joe explains that establishing this centre has been a long-held ambition, realized through collaboration with numerous groups. He acknowledges the support of his team, The Sea Life Trust, vets, and local partners known as The Turtle Task Force, all dedicated to helping more turtles recover and protecting this species.
It is crucial not to return found turtles to the water, as this exacerbates their hypothermia and can lead to death. Some turtles may appear lifeless but are not, their heartbeat merely slowed significantly; these turtles can still be saved.
Joe is proud to have this special centre. It enables them to help sick turtles return to the wild. There has been an increase in sick turtles that wash ashore that are also suffering from “cold-shock needing specific care.”
Thirty-five turtles washed up last year, and twenty-seven washed up in 2023. This is more than double the twelve in 2022. Joe says these numbers regularly increase each year.
Sea Life Global will implement educational initiatives. They will be working with UK and European partners. They want to teach about turtle rescue and promote the importance of this care center. This is for these stranded animals overall.
The Royal Navy plans to assist Barnacle Bill by transporting her on a warship to her natural habitat. If you find a stranded turtle, report it to the Turtle UK network at 01239 683033.