BOSTON (Reuters) – More than two dozen rare sea turtles who were cold, hungry and lost were rescued over the Thanksgiving holiday after having washed ashore on Cape Cod, a spokesman for the New England Aquarium said yesterday.

The Kemp's ridley species of turtles are being treated at an animal care centre south of Boston for hypothermia, dehydration, and malnourishment, aquarium spokesman Tony LaCasse said.

"These animals are very sick," he said, noting at least half of them are suffering from pneumonia and all have bacterial infections. Thanks to strong northwest winds earlier this week, the charcoal black turtles weighing between two and eight pounds were washed onto beaches along the upper arm of the Cape, a favourite seaside vacation spot in Massachusetts.