Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Thousands of turtles have been rescued from freezing waters in Texas
As normally-warm Texas suffered from sub-zero temperatures and power outages, people and animals on land had to endure unprecedented cold winter days. In Texas, houses aren’t built for such low temperatures, people aren’t used to ice and snow, and animals aren’t covered with fat or fur. People all struggled to get heat by boiling water or covering themselves with blankets. The severe winter temperatures also affected creatures in the water. Sea turtles were among such unfortunate examples. Unlike sea animals like dolphins, turtles are ectotherms, or cold-blooded, whose internal temperature varies according to the surrounding water. So, at low temperatures like below 10°C, they can become cold-stunned and unable to swim. They float up to the surface and become vulnerable to be hit, eaten, or stranded. Indeed, turtles become so motionless and defenseless that immediate rescue is imminent. Fortunately, with the efforts of heartwarming Texans, who themselves are enduring the cold, over 2,600 turtles had been rescued as of Feb. 18th. Also, a space venter SpaceX provided the rescue team with a power generator to heat the facilities that housed the rescued turtles. It is grateful that a space venture’s interest also lies in the creatures of Mother Earth.
Enjoy reading the article and see the photos of the sea turtles rescued by humans.
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/18/us/texas-turtles-freezing-rescue-texas-trnd/index.html
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