Rescuers rush to save sea creatures when lightning sparks fire at NJ animal hospital

A lightning storm ended in peril for a sea turtle hospital in New Jersey.

On the evening of Aug. 28, lightning struck Sea Turtle Recovery, the only long-term care hospital for turtles in the state. The bolt set the West Orange building on fire.

Hospital staff members rushed to the scene, where they found the fire department working on the blaze.

“The sea turtles were exposed to heavy smoke so we immediately moved them to a safe building inside the zoo for triage,” hospital staff said in an Aug. 29 post on Facebook, referring to the Turtle Back Zoo, where the recovery center is located.

Staff and volunteers examined the patients. A critically endangered turtle named Pickles, who was originally hospitalized for a respiratory infection, was an early focus for rescuers. While they were examining him, his heart rate dropped “dangerously low.”

Staff put him in an emergency pool in hopes of stimulating deeper breathing. It worked.

“You cannot imagine our relief when his swimming became regular, and he began exhibiting normal behaviors,” staff said.

The staff worked to stabilize five other turtles.

Staff, volunteers and their patients then drove four hours to New York to the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, which awaited their arrival with tanks to house the turtles for the time being.

“Our day has not stopped, and we have been up without rest,” Sea Turtle Recovery said in the post. Despite the staff’s exhaustion, however, “the turtles are now safe, and they are being monitored closely.”

Staff members say they don’t yet know the extent of the damage but are determined to stay positive despite the events of the last 24 hours. Most of all, they are grateful the animals are safe and stable.

“So many things that could have gone wrong did not,” they said.

This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 3:40 PM with the headline "Rescuers rush to save sea creatures when lightning sparks fire at NJ animal hospital."