KURE BEACH — Two loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings were rescued and are being rehabilitated at the Fort Fisher aquarium.
Pip and Scout — weighing less than a half-pound each — are survivors found in nest excavations at Carolina Beach and Fort Fisher. Their names came from staff suggestions and were then voted on by local students, who picked favorites.
“It is important to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher to foster connections to aquatic life for students and engaging them in voting for the turtles’ names is a great way to do that,” Andy Gould, NCAFF education curator said in a press release. “Inspiring the next generation to tell the story of loggerhead sea turtles like Pip and Scout bolsters our work to save this protected species.”
The baby turtles join others who have been in the care of aquarium staff for decades. Sharing the tiny ambassadors with visitors is part of the aquarium’s mission to spotlight conservation of aquatic environments.
Nest watchers, parents and volunteers scout out nearby beaches to protect and care for sea turtles. Volunteers are essential at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher for caring for sick and injured sea turtles.
Two hatchlings, Hatch and Journey, joined the aquarium in fall 2021 and were cleared for release to the ocean recently.
Tickets to the aquarium can be reserved online to see the new turtles.
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