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Several turtles have been stranded on Cornish beaches during the early months of 2008.

Some turtles which are now living in Cornish waters have travelled thousands of miles from the American coast.

James at the Blue Reef Aquarium

As another marine turtle is found dead near Newquay, and a second on the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall Wildlife Trust's Marine Strandings Network, working in partnership with British Divers Marine Life Rescue, are asking the public to look out for these well-travelled visitors.Μύ

The nature groups want to ensure that any survivors get the emergency treatment they need and learn more about the biology of turtles from those that do not survive.

"So far, 2008 has been a busy year for finding stranded turtles," says Jan Loveridge, Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Strandings Network coordinator.

"This latest turtle, a loggerhead, brings the number found in Cornwall to six. They were stranded as far apart as Bude, St Agnes and the Isles of Scilly.Μύ

Between them, the Trust's Marine Strandings Network and BDMLR responded to every stranded reptile call they received.Μύ Now the organisations are asking for the public’s help to try and increase the chances of survival of any more turtles that wash up around our coast.

"We know that turtles can appear to be dead when in fact they have simply gone into a catatonic state due to our cold waters, but they need specialist care to bring them safely out of this state," explains Dave Jarvis, BDMLR's coordinator for Cornwall.

A Loggerhead in the wild

"We have already succeeded in rescuing four of the turtles, two of which have survived and are doing really well thanks to the care and expertise of the team at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay, who've done a fantastic job.Μύ

"You can even see James, the largest of the group, swimming around happily in the large tank.Μύ We hope that she - yes it is a female, despite the name - will continue to recover well and eventually be flown out and released in warmer seas, which really makes it all worthwhile."

The public are urged to call the Trust's Strandings Network Hotline immediately on 0845 201 2626 if they find an apparently dead turtle.Μύ You can learn more about the Network's efforts in examining all species of stranded marine animals on the links below: