kemp-ridley sea turtle

Georgia's hospital for sick and injured sea turtles is busier than ever as it helps treat hundreds of endangered turtles washing ashore with acute hypothermia in Massachusetts.

Dr. Terry Norton, the veterinarian in charge of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, said Monday that his staff is treating more than 60 turtles — the largest number the Jekyll Island center has seen at once since it opened in 2007.

Most of them are rare Kemp's ridley sea turtles sickened by extreme cold off Cape Cod.

The New England Aquarium in Boston has been sending cold-stunned turtles to animal hospitals and aquariums from Pennsylvania to Florida since they began washing ashore in record numbers last month. Aquarium spokesman Tony LaCasse says more than 600 turtles have been rescued since mid-November.

Tags: Georgia Sea Turtle Center, kemp ridley sea turtle, georgia sea turtle center treating kemp ridley turtles