Cold-stunned turtles flown to turtle hospital, given Star Wars names

SURF CITY, NC (WWAY) — The Stars Wars cast arrived in Surf City today in turtle form.

Darth Vader came in and then Yoda. The Star Wars gang was all there right off of a plane from New England. It was not the real star wars cast, but Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue Founder Jean Beasley said these 20 turtles were named after them.

“What else could we choose this year, but the force awakens,” Beasley said.

Volunteer Corda Johnson has been waiting for them for weeks.

“I read about it,” Johnson said. “I heard about it and was just waiting for the moment that it happens and you get a call and you’re just ready and you come in.”

Johnson and several others came in, not because of their star wars fame, but because these turtles are in danger.

“Cold-stuns,” Beasley said.

Beasley said the turtles did not get the message.

“That at a certain time of year you need to get out of the shallow feeding grounds, because you’re going to get zapped,” Beasley said.

Zapped with dangerously cold temperatures.

“So if the water is 36 degrees, they are going to be dropping to that eventually,” Beasley said.

Then, she said they are stranded.

“They just freeze in place,” Beasley said.

That is when she said help comes for them.

“There are a lot of great folks up in New England that walk the beaches looking for them,” Beasley said.

Then, they are flown to facilities across the southeast with warm hands waiting for them.

“We all shift turtles around to get them the best care that we possibly can,” Beasley said.

They do run into one of the biggest challenges every year.

“Keeping them with the right name with the right number with the right turtle,” Beasley said.

By the end of the turtle’s stay, these volunteers hope to send this Stars Wars cast back to the ocean with lightsaber power to zap off any kind danger.

Click here to learn more about the sea turtle hospital.