Introducing four sea turtles
Joetsu Aquarium Umigatari

2020.8.7

umigatariSea turtleJoetsu CityNaoetsu

You can take photos with a turtle!

Four new sea turtles have arrived at Joetsu Aquarium Umigatari in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture from the 6th of August.

Top: Loggerhead turtle 　Bottom: Green turtle

There are two green turtles and two loggerhead turtles.  The size of the shell of each turtle is about 35 cm.  The sea turtles can be seen up close at the touching pool on the first floor of “Umigatari”.

Green turtle

This green turtle was saved by a keeper at “Umigatari”, Naoetsu last year.  At that time, the turtle’s left foot was missing.  The turtle had been getting medical treatment at the aquarium, but it has recovered well, and can now be seen by the public.  The remaining three were borrowed from an aquarium in Aichi Prefecture.

 

Green turtle ↑

Loggerhead turtle ↑

The two types of sea turtles differ in body color and head size.Green turtles have herbivorous diet of seaweed.  Loggerhead turtles eat shellfish and squid.  According to the keeper, each turtle has a different personality too.

It has become a global problem that sea turtles accidentally eat marine debris such as vinyl and plastic, and are harmed as a result.  “The green turtle is an endangered species.  The loggerhead turtle is a vulnerable species.  Some turtles eat garbage and die.  We must think about marine debris.”

The green turtle that we saved last year will be released back to the sea after checking its health.

The sea turtles will be on display from August 6th until the end of September.  The exhibition time is from 10am to 5pm. The commentaries and feeding by the staff are three times daily at 11:00, 13:00, and 15:00.  However, it will be closed from the 8th to the 16th of this month.