🐢The fire in the sea turtle recovery room at Turtle Back Zoo was caused by a lightning strike.
🐢A triage has been set up to examine all turtles in the building
🐢A turtle named Pickles had a respiratory infection and a very low heart rate
WEST ORANGE – A lightning strike caused a fire in a building at the Turtle Back Zoo, forcing several turtles to be relocated.
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. said the fire damaged the roof of the 4,000-square-foot sea turtle recovery room. The zoo will be open today during regular hours.
Sea Turtle Recovery, which works with the zoo to care for sick and injured turtles, said the turtles were exposed to heavy smoke and moved to another building. A triage team of doctors and volunteers examined each turtle. Some of the turtles were taken to the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society on the east end of Long Island.
“Our day is not over yet and we have been on our feet non-stop. The turtles are now safe and being closely monitored,” the nonprofit organization wrote in a post on its Facebook page.
ALSO READ: Mother and children start big fight in New Jersey movie theater
Radar image of a thunderstorm that caused a roof fire in the Sea Turtle Recovery Room at the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange on 8/28/24.
Cucumbers in trouble
An Atlantic ridley turtle named Pickles suffered a respiratory infection and her heart rate dropped to dangerously low levels. A supervised swim in an emergency pool was needed to help Pickles breathe normally again, according to the nonprofit.
The Sea Turtle Recovery Room has five recovery pools, life support systems and an intensive care unit for severely injured turtles, according to its website. Once the turtles are healthy, they are released back into the wild.
New Jersey 101.5 Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow said the storm was not part of a line of squall lines further south in Central Jersey.
“Given the strength of the storm and the hot/unstable atmosphere, I would assume lightning strikes were likely frequent,” Zarrow said.
ALSO READ: New Jersey student dies in motorcycle crash at University of Delaware
Staff prepare a turtle from the sea turtle recovery room for transport
Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom
The worst and best behaved dog breeds
Here are the five worst behaved breeds of the 25 most popular, ranked from fifth worst to absolute worst. Then come the best behaved breeds of the 25 most popular, ranked from fifth worst to absolute best behaved breed.
Photo credit: Forbes Advisor
Play Ball NJ: New Jersey baseball pros to watch in the MLB
A number of baseball players born in New Jersey have made it to the major leagues. These MLB pros entering 2024 all have their roots in New Jersey.
Gallery Credit: Erin Vogt
These are the 12 best companies to work for in New Jersey
Gallery Credit: Erin Vogt
