Hello Helvetica! Vets name rescued sea turtles named after fonts
Helvetica and verdana are not just fonts. These are also some of the new names given to sea turtles that a team from the New England Aquarium’s turtle hospital rehabilitated this year.
This winter, nearly 500 live turtles have washed up along the shores of Cape Cod Bay, many suffering from hypothermia from the annual cold-stunning season. Cold stunning occurs when water temperatures quickly drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, causing cold-blooded turtles to have weak, inactive states that impact their ability to swim.
Most of the rescued turtles have been stabilized and transferred to secondary rehabilitation centers. Fifty-eight members of the group remain at the New England Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital, an animal care facility in Quincy, Massachusetts. These long-time residents are still recovering from shell injuries and fractures, as well as various lung, joint and shell infections. Some have a long road to recovery before being released back into their habitat.
Turtle Hospital
Aquarium staff, volunteers and interns have a tradition of naming turtles who receive extended care. This year’s names honor the team’s favorite fonts. Two critically endangered Kemp’s turtles are named ‘Cavolini’ and ‘Franklin’, a pair of loggerheads named ‘Pretty Princess’ and ‘Helvetica’, while another pair of sea turtles are nicknamed ‘Verdana’ and ‘Chunk’.
âThe time of year when we name turtles always brings a lot of joy to the entire team,â Sammi Chaves, a rescue biologist at the Aquarium, said in a press release. “It’s symbolic, in a way, because these turtles have moved past the triage phase and are now in the long-term rehabilitation phase. Many are still undergoing significant medical treatment and diagnostics, but they have made great progress since their arrival. Now we are working to get these turtles healthy enough to be released.”
Once water temperatures warm this summer, aquarium staff plan to release most of its rehabilitated sea turtles off the coast of Cape Cod into Nantucket Sound. In the meantime, Aquarium Hospital’s new patients are in good hands.
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