Twelve rescued Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are being rehabilitated at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium as part of its Sea Turtle Second Chance Program. 

The turtles were rescued by the New England Aquarium after washing ashore along the Massachusetts coast due to a drop in ocean temperature. They were unable to reach the warmer gulfstream and were stranded in cold water that left their bodies stunned. They arrived in Pittsburgh on December 3. All are suffering from pneumonia, as well as a variety of wounds. “We also have a turtle that is missing a left eye, which is something different for us,” said Pittsburgh Zoo Aquarist Jennifer Dancico. “He must have injured it a while ago because it is healing nicely and he is getting around and eating great.” The turtles are recovering and continue to make progress each day. 

The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Second Chance Program, sponsored by Peoples, has been successfully rescuing and rehabilitating sea turtles every year for more than a decade. Located within the upper Aquarium and viewable from a large outside window, the sea turtle rehabilitation center provides world-class care with the goal of release and a renewed hope for survival for every turtle.  

Hundreds of sea turtles are beached or stranded every year due to injury, disease, illness, or environmental threats. During their recovery period, the turtles are given a restorative diet and physical rehabilitation by our animal care staff until they stabilize. 

The Zoo’s most recent batch of turtles arrived in late November 2024, and, after regaining their health, were successfully returned to the Atlantic Ocean in March 2025.