A very rare sea turtle washed up on the beach of Castricum this morning. “It is a fat-headed sea turtle,” says Mark de Boer. He is curator of cold-blooded animals at Blijdorp Zoo. “This tropical turtle doesn’t belong here,” says Mark. The sea animal is now on its way to Rotterdam, where it is being cared for.
John from Castricum saw the animal lying on the beach, together with other beach walkers. He took the photo above and sent it to our editors. “His legs were still moving,” he says. “I think they put it back in the sea.”
Fortunately that didn’t happen. “Because this turtle can never survive in the North Sea,” Mark explains. “It is a tropical sea animal that thrives at 20 degrees. We hope it survives, because it is probably quite hypothermic.”
Fifth time
It is the fifth time in three months that sea turtles have been found on the Dutch coast. Yesterday morning, two more washed up on the beach of Dishoek, near Vlissingen and on the beach at ‘s-Gravenzande, not far from The Hague. The one in The Hague was covered in mussels. “It is the 16th ever in the Netherlands,” adds Mark.
But why are they suddenly found on our beaches? “No idea. I think because of the sea current through the canal. When it storms they wash up on the beach.” Mark therefore recommends that you immediately call the animal ambulance or Diergaarde Blijdorp if you find a sea turtle. Blijdorp Zoo is the only shelter in the Netherlands where they receive and release sea turtles.
Name
The turtle is slowly warmed up in a special room. “We are taking it very slowly. If it survives, the animal will be released in Portugal or the Azores in the spring.” The second sea turtle, which was found on the beach of Zoutelande last week, was named BLØF.
The tortoise from Castricum does not yet have a name, but suggestions are welcome [email protected].