NORTH CAPE MAY – A young Kemp’s Ridley turtle, the most endangered turtle species in the world, and an endangered young Green Sea Turtle, rarely seen this far north, enjoyed a complimentary Ferry ride Oct. 11. They came on board the Cape May-Lewes Ferry with their handler Troy Platt and his truck from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine.
The turtles, estimated to be between 3 and 4 years old, or younger, traveled from Cape May to Lewes, Del. en route to their final destination, near Virginia Beach, where four different organizations joined together for a mass release into the ocean. In addition to the MMSC, the other organizations were the New England Aquarium, National Aquarium at Baltimore and Virginia Aquarium.
Founding Director of the non-profit MMSC, Bob Schoelkopf, explained that the Cape May-Lewes Ferry has been transporting their turtles, seals and distressed dolphins for 35 years. “The Ferry ride helps provide a needed break to the driver, not to mention a thrill for passengers and crew,” said Schoelkopf. “The turtles seem comfortable with the swaying movement of the boat, and best of all, while on board, our staff gets to observe dolphins, whales, and loggerhead sea turtles on the Bay, as well as seabirds. It’s a great experience for a nature enthusiast,” added Schoelkopf.
“The Marine Mammal Stranding Center does an outstanding job saving endangered mammals,” said Heath Gehrke, Director of Operations for the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. “It’s a great privilege for us to play a continuing role in helping these mammals reach safe waters.”
The two traveling ferry turtles were rescued by the MMSC after they were caught in intake pipes at the Oyster Creek Generating Station, in Forked River, N.J. MMSC has rescued half a dozen turtles at this location this year, and over the same period, 50-80 turtles in total up and down New Jersey’s coast from various situations, including entanglement in lines.
“This time of year, it’s critical to the turtles’ survival that they move to warmer water. They become lethargic in cold water, where they will slow down and often die,” said Schoelkopf.
The reason the turtles are endangered is because they are killed in the Caribbean for food, turtle meat and eggs, or for their shells which are sold to tourists, explained Schoelkopf. “Now if a traveler tried to get into the U.S. with a turtle shell, they wouldn’t be allowed, but it’s still too late to save that turtle.”
