Featured Image Credit: Gulfarium via Facebook
Sarah Sharkey
Nona the Green sea turtle was released earlier this week by Gulfarium’s C.A.R.E. Center. C.A.R.E. stands for Conserve Act Rehabilitate Educate. The mission of their organization is to help rehabilitate and release any species of sea turtles found on the Gulf Coast. The C.A.R.E. Center is dedicated to informing the public about sea turtles and the conservation efforts necessary to help them thrive.
The public was invited to witness the release at Grayton Beach State Park in North Florida.
Unfortunately, this was not her first time at the C.A.R.E. Center. She recovered here in June 2015 after she was hooked on the front left flipper at Navarre Pier.
This time around, Nona was brought to shore by a fisherman after she swallowed a hook at the Navarre Fishing Pier. She arrived on February 2, 2017. The initial X-rays showed four fishing hooks inside of Nona’s stomach. Veterinarians operated on her on February 22 because the hooks were not passing through on their own. After a successful surgery, the juvenile green sea turtle made a full recovery.
Curator of Fish and Reptiles for Gulfarium, Graham Northup, said, “we are hoping her release by a secluded state park will help keep her away from fishing piers.”