This 82lbs adult Kemp’s ridley sea turtle was found washed ashore on the Eglin AFB Beach property in Navarre on Sunday, January 2nd.
According to the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center, she was very lethargic and covered with algae and gooseneck barnacles. She is currently receiving fluids and antibiotics at the C.A.R.E. Center and began eating on Friday, January 7th.
“We are very happy to say that she is improving and becoming more active each day,” wrote the C.A.R.E. Center. “Kemp’s ridleys are the most endangered of all seven species of sea turtle.”
Based on global population assessments, this species has an extremally high risk of becoming extinct in the wild in the immediate future.
“In January 2019, it was estimated that there were only 22,341 mature Kemp’s ridley sea turtles left in the wild, so it is extremely important that we do everything we can to help these amazing animals,” continued to the C.A.R.E. Center.