The UK's first purpose-built Turtle Rehabilitation and Repatriation Centre
We have been busy setting up a brand new facility at SEA LIFE Brighton to support our ongoing conservation efforts. As such, we are delighted to have created the UK's first purpose-built Turtle Rehabilitation and Repatriation Centre.
This centre has special biosecurity measures in place to limit human exposure and is therefore closed off from the public, to ensure we can give turtles the critical care they need.
Why do we need the centre?
The number of sea turtles washing up on UK beaches has more than doubled in recent years, prompting the creation of the country's first dedicated rehabilitation and repatriation centre in Brighton.
Many turtles arrive suffering from severe hypothermia, disoriented by storms and ocean currents - an issue that is being driven by climate change.
We've therefore built this facility in order for us to provide specialist care to nurse these vulnerable creatures back to health and back into the wild.
Meet Barnacle Bill!
The first rescue in our facility has been a Loggerhead Turtle called Barnacle Bill. Bill was found washed up on the shores of Guernsey with lots of barnacles on her back, after being displaced in a storm.
She was cold-stunned and hypothermic and had immediate critical care by the GSPCA, before then being brought over to our facility at SEA LIFE Brighton.
She has now been brought back up to health and will soon be repatriated back into the wild.
How can you help?
You might be wondering how you can help if you spot a turtle washed up on UK shores.
There are a number of steps that we advise you to take:
- Contact the Marine Strandings Network on 0345 201 2626
- Put a slightly damp towel or piece of clothing over the turtle
- If instructed by the Strandings team, transport them to where requested
- If transporting a turtle, do not adjust the temperature in your cars, or do anything else to change the temperature of the turtle
We have a dedicated hotline at SEA LIFE Brighton for any urgent turtle rescue advise, if the above steps are not possible to take - 07860502037
