High Altitudes May Boost Sea Turtle Growth

In October of last year the Albuquerque Aquarium recieved a baby loggerhead as part of a sea turtle loan program from the North Carolina Aquarium. In Pine Knoll Shores NC, the aquarium runs a program where weak and late-hatching baby turtles are brought in to be rehabilitated. From there, many are loaned out to AZA accredited facilities across the country to spread the message of conservation, before eventually being released back into the wild.

The baby male loggerhead was named Shelldon, and he was one of the last of the turtles to take part of the program, which will end this year. After arriving in New Mexico, Shelldon began to grow quickly, doubling in size in the first 3 months. Scientists at the Biopark theorize that Albuquerque's high altitude (5,312 ft above sea level) has accelerated his growth, as he is much larger and heavier than a typical turtle his age.

There are a host of man-made threats to sea turtles in the wild, including pollution, commercial fishing and artificial light on beaches, where hatchlings become disoriented and fail to reach the water. These dangers have caused six of the seven known sea-turtle species to become endangered. Loggerheads are one of these six, with populations aross the world listed as threatened or endangered.

Perhaps the loan program stumbled upon a secret weapon for preparing turtles for re-entry into the wild? The U.S. FIsh and Wildlife Service has put a stop to the program, preferring that the animals be released immediately into the wild from the North Carolina facility. With his advanced size, Shelldon will have an extra advantage when he is released into the ocean in January. Maybe the N.C. facility should get all of its rehab hatchlings into a high altitude environment during their first months.