Featured Image Credit: Texas State Aquarium
By: Sarah Sharkey
A Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle is now calling the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi its home. The turtle is only one year old but has earned the name of Champ based on its fight to survive against all odds.
Champ was found during the cold-stunning streak last fall, many sea turtles were affected by a late cold snap. It was missing its front left flipper. It appeared that the flipper had been bitten off based on the healed bite marks around the area.
An injury like that would kill most sea turtles, but not Champ. Although it was dehydrated and unresponsive when it was found, the small turtle overcame those challenges under the care of the Aquarium’s Wildlife Rescue center.
On the day it was found, it was only one square inch and .15 pounds. Now it weighs around 3 pounds and is nine inches long. According to Seamus McAfee, the aquarium spokesman, Champ has grown to be more than 20 times its original size and has recovered the ability to swim and eat.”
It is too early to tell if this turtle is a male or female, but either way, the strength of this young turtle is impressive.
Luckily for Champ, it was in good hands at the aquarium. Now that it is in good shape, visitors can see it in its new home for now. The staff still hopes that he will make it back into the wild one day. First, the turtle needs to master diving and catching food on its own, then a veterinarian will need to clear the animal for release.
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