The New England Aquarium was part of a rescue team that aided the recovery of nearly 100 Eastern box turtles that were attempted to be smuggled out of the U.S. and into Asia over the summer. They supported the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services in taking in the turtles that were suffering from a myriad of issues that had arisen from their treatment.

After examination, wildlife officials found that the turtles were all severely dehydrated intentionally and had ear and eye infections from being confined in the box without sunlight or water. Within the next few weeks, however, the turtles began showing symptoms of the ranavirus, which is a deadly disease that “causes animals to hemorrhage, gasp for air, and accumulate fluid under the skin,” according to the aquarium. They were sent to a laboratory at the University of Illinois, where veterinarians are studying ranavirus.