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Rare turtle in BC waters suffers from hypothermia – Winnipeg Free Press

Posted on by Neons

VANCOUVER – A sea turtle rare in British Columbia waters has been rescued near Victoria after suffering from hypothermia.

The Marine Mammal Rescue Society at the Vancouver Aquarium says the reptile, nicknamed Moira, found in Pedder Bay between Victoria and Sooke on Sunday had an internal temperature of just 8.4 C.

The society says local marine biologist Anna Hall was the first to respond and was instrumental in the rescue.

A rare British Columbia sea turtle has been rescued after being found suffering from hypothermia near Victoria. The Marine Mammal Rescue Society at the Vancouver Aquarium says the turtle, nicknamed Moira, was rescued off Victoria on February 4, 2024, and was hypothermic when she entered the aquarium's care. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Vancouver Aquarium
A rare British Columbia sea turtle has been rescued after being found suffering from hypothermia near Victoria. The Marine Mammal Rescue Society at the Vancouver Aquarium says the turtle, nicknamed Moira, was rescued off Victoria on February 4, 2024, and was hypothermic when she entered the aquarium's care. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Vancouver Aquarium

The society says the turtle's temperature is slowly rising, and fluid therapy and antibiotics are being administered to nurse him back to health.

It is in recent memory that B.C. reported the second sighting of the turtle in the waters and the species is common in subtropical and temperate seas.