Release of sea turtles treated by the La Rochelle Aquarium

As happens every winter, several young sea turtles have washed ashore on the Atlantic and English Channel coasts. Most of them are loggerhead sea turtles—a common species along the French coast, recognizable by their orange color. Uniquely, there is also a green sea turtle, a tropical species that is very rarely found on our shores. These animals are very young individuals who, during their migration, can fall victim to storms and strong currents.

When individuals are found, they are taken to the Center for the Study and Care of Sea Turtles (CESTM) at the La Rochelle Aquarium. Typically, the center treats and releases about ten turtles per year. But in 2024, more than 130 turtles were rescued—a historic record for France. Why have there been so many strandings? According to the center’s director, Florence Dell’Amico, it is due to the winter storms, which have been particularly frequent, freezing, and powerful this year. The stranded turtles suffer from dehydration, exhaustion, and hypothermia.