TAMPA, Fla. — Dozens of cold stunned turtles were flown from New England down to Florida near the end of last year, with seven of them rehabbing in Tampa Bay.

The Florida Aquarium is caring for the rescued turtles at its Apollo Beach campus. They are all Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, the most endangered type of sea turtle in the world.

“When they first came in, they had DTS, which is ‘Debilitated Turtle Syndrome.’ They’re super lethargic, they’re swimming really, really slowly and they’re not really interested in eating,” said Paiton Krebs, a sea turtle rehab biologist at the aquarium. “So these guys are all still on antibiotics treating their infections. But they’ve come a very long way.”

The turtles are faring much better than when they first arrived. Krebs said cold stunned turtles are often lethargic, swim slowly and lose their appetites.

Through care at the aquarium, the turtles have been regaining both their strength and appetites. Krebs said releasing recovered rescues back into the wild is the best part of the job.

“When we’re able to take these sick and injured sea turtles, see out their entire treatment plan and release them back to where they should be is just such a rewarding feeling,” said Krebs.

Once ready, The Florida Aquarium staff will transport the turtles to the Jacksonville area for release.