Turtles Coverage

Can climate change be helpful to certain species?

Researchers in Spain believe it's possible that climate change could be helping a threatened species of turtle fight for survival.

'She was pretty exhausted and hot': NPS workers help disoriented sea turtle

Cape Lookout National Seashore workers helped a disoriented loggerhead sea turtle return to the water.

Mark Bergin, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

Loggerhead sea turtle returns to the water at Cape Lookout National Seashore

Workers with the National Park Service's Cape Lookout National Seashore helped a loggerhead sea turtle in need on Thursday. Video courtesy of Cape Lookout National Seashore

Experts hopeful Ocean Isle Beach could see a rare leatherback turtle nest

Experts with the Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization are hopeful the area will see its first leatherback turtle nest in 10 years.

Maggie Brown, WRAL multiplatform producer

Group of loggerhead sea turtles rescued from New England released in Georgia

A group of loggerhead sea turtles that were rescued off the new England coast will now be able to once again call the Atlantic Ocean their home. Team members from the Georgia Aquarium were at Talbot Island state Park in Jacksonville on Tuesday afternoon to release the turtles.

'Hard-headed little guy': Sea turtle gets an autopsy

The turtle's eyes are gently shut, like it's taking a nap and its blood isn't dripping onto the concrete below. Like its heart hasn't traveled around the semicircle, passed between red-smeared gloves. Like its head isn't detaching under the rapid slices of biologist Matthew Godfrey's hacksaw.

Mary King, Nick Perlin and Daniela Rodriguez-Puente, UNC Media Hub

UNC students give turtle an autopsy, investigating cause of death

Six species of sea turtles swim in U.S. waters, and five of them are found off North Carolina. This turtle looks plucked straight from the ocean. It's hard to tell that it sat in a freezer for more than a year and a half, saved for a workshop like this one. (Video by Nick Perlin)

First class: Sea turtle takes flight

A rescue group flies a rehabilitated sea turtle from the Florida Keys to permanently reside at a conservation facility in Texas.

Two-headed sea turtle found at NC coast during nest excavation

An unusual sight, for most, was discovered at the North Carolina coast recently - a two-headed sea turtle.

Ryan Bisesi, WRAL multiplatform producer

Something to 'shell-elebrate:' Student-led group helping rehabilitate North Carolina's turtles

Why did the turtle cross the road? Most likely, it was just trying to get to the other side -- but sometimes turtles get injured in the process.

Sydney Franklin, WRAL multiplatform producer

Turtle Rescue Team helping keep North Carolina's turtles thriving

North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine's Turtle Rescue Team is dedicated to helping rehabilitate the state's wild turtles.

It's turtle time on Bald Head Island

The Bald Head Island Conservancy works the night shift to protect and track breeding sea turtles.

Raw: Golden turtle found in Japan is one of a kind

A lack of pigmentation makes this turtle appear to be gold but makes it more vulnerable to predators

Endangered baby turtles found in suitcase

Airport authorities on Ecuador's Galapagos Islands discovered a suitcase with 185 endangered baby land turtles inside.

Dozens of baby sea turtles rescued in Tunisia

Dozens of baby sea turtles in Tunisia are getting out of their nests and making their way to the shore thanks to the efforts of some environmentalists.

Rare yellow turtle rescued

The brightly colored turtle was first spotted by villagers in the coastal Indian state of Odisha on Sunday and handed over to the forest department. Wildlife experts say the yellow turtle is likely an albino mutation of a common turtle.

Rare sea turtle released back into the ocean after rehabilitation in the Florida Keys

Maisy is a hybrid Hawksbill-Green Sea turtle that was rescued about a year ago. She has a condition called Fibropapillomatosis -- a herpes-like virus that affects sea turtles around the world. Friday she was released off the coast of Florida into the ocean, fitted with a satellite-tracking transmitter.

Giant tortoises returned to wild on Galapagos Islands

Fifteen giant tortoises were released in the Galapagos Islands after spending decades in captivity.

Thousands of baby turtles released into Peruvian river

Peruvian government officials and children released about 6,000 Taricaya turtles into a river in the Amazon. The Taricaya, or yellow-spotted river turtle, has become vulnerable due to poaching and human activities.

Non-profit benefits after N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores wins contest

A non-profit group, dedicated to saving sea turtles on the North Carolina coast, will benefit from a contest it didn't enter. It began after the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores won an online contest.

Baby sea turtles returning to the sea in Turkey

Baby loggerhead turtles hatch and dash to the Aegean Sea from a Turkish beach.

Old, slow: Deputy's reaction to being behind 'that guy'

A Florida deputy had a little fun with a slow mover in front of him.