1-877-3-TURTLE (1-877-388-7853)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!

STAR (Sea Turtle Assistance & Rescue) is a collaboration of  NGO’s, territorial and federal agencies, veterinarians, and community volunteers.  These groups joined together to help injured sea turtles, as well as collect and disseminate information on stranded turtles, in order to better protect these marine animals.

STAR relies on many community volunteers, local veterinarians and other donated resources.  The most important participant in STAR, however, is YOU!  Please call the hotline at 1-877-3-TURTLE to report any entrapped, disoriented, sick, injured, or dead sea turtle.

Stranded sea turtles (as well as whales and dolphins) are those found on the beach or floating either dead, or alive but in a weakened state.  Sea turtles that are naturally nesting are not considered stranded.

• Injured Sea Turtles
• Trapped Sea Turtles
• Disoriented Sea Turtles
• Injured Hatchlings
• Disoriented Hatchlings
• Stranded Dolphins
• Stranded Whales
• Endangered Species Act Violations

A variety of natural and human-related factors can cause sea turtles to strand. STAR personnel have documented human interactions in a number of sea turtle strandings in the USVI.  Human-related factors include:

· Disorientation of adult sea turtles and hatchlings due to inappropriate lighting on, or near nesting beaches.

· Entanglement in marine debris.

· Ingestion of marine debris.

· Dogs attacking turtles on nesting beaches.

· Propeller and collision impacts from boats.

· Poaching of sea turtles and sea turtle eggs.

West Indies Marine Animal Research and Conservation Service, Inc.

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