Stop Releasing Hatched Sea Turtles into the Gulf of Mexico

FROM Endangered Species Coalition

Do not release newly hatched baby sea turtles into the horrors that await them in the Gulf.

The Kemp's Ridley turtle nests from Texas are now safely incubating at the Padre Island National Seashore. Normally, the hatchlings are released from Padre Island into the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, because of the BP oil spill disaster, they may get caught up in the same currents in the Gulf that are now full of oil. The baby sea turtles can be housed in federal facilities until expert scientists determine a safe time and place to send them to the sea.

CONTACT

Sign an online petition

And/Or make direct contact:

Ken Salazar
Secretary of the Interior
1849 C Street N.W.
Washington DC 20240
phone (202) 208-3100
fax (202) 208-6950
email

Rowan Gould
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1849 C Street NW
Washington DC 20240
phone (800) 344-WILD
web email form

Dr. Jane Lubchenco
NOAA Administrator
Dr. Jane Lubchenco
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 5128
Washington DC 20230
phone (202) 482-3436
email

Jon Jarvis
National Park Service
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street NW
Washington DC 20240
phone (202) 208-3100
email

INFORMATION / TALKING POINTS

Despite the oil spill befouling the Gulf, government officials plan to release endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtle hatchlings into the oiled waters.

Kemp's Ridley turtles are already one of the most endangered sea turtles in the world. Now, the BP oil spill disaster is threatening them with extinction. They nest along the Gulf Coast and their main feeding ground is directly in the area of the oil spill.

Normally, Kemp's Ridley sea turtle hatchlings are released into the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, because of the BP oil spill disaster, they may get caught up in the same currents in the Gulf that are now full of oil. The baby sea turtles can be housed in federal facilities until expert scientists determine a safe time and place to send them to the sea.

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I am extremely concerned about the impact of the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico on endangered sea turtles and other wildlife. Please immediately halt the release of Kemp's ridley sea turtle hatchlings into the oiled waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Kemp’s ridley nests from throughout Texas are now safely incubating at Padre Island National Seashore. These animals can be temporarily housed at the National Marine Fisheries Service facility at Galveston, Texas, until an expert working group of scientists determines a safe time and place to send these sea turtles to the sea.

Thank you for your work to save sea turtles and other wildlife from the Gulf oil spill disaster. I appreciate your consideration and response.

Thank you for everything you do for animals!