Featured Image Credit: SeaWorld
After four months of round-the-clock care, a 230 pound loggerhead sea turtle was returned to the ocean safely this week thanks to SeaWorld Orlando’s Rescue Team and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Even more fitting, the turtle was released this past Tuesday, May 23, on World Turtle Day.
This gentle giant was found floating in the Indian River Lagoon near Fort Pierce this past January with a missing front flipper, a damaged shell, and a stomach full of sand dollars that were creating blockages in the turtles intestines. Weighing in at just 218 pound, the rescue team knew they had to remove the blockages so the turtle could be able to eat again. After much patience, medication and fluid therapy, the rescue team at SeaWorld was able to do just that.
May 23 has been recognized as World Turtle Day since 2000, so it felt right for this to be the day to send this sub-adult loggerhead back home. Since 1980, SeaWorld Orlando has rescued nearly 2,000 sea turtles with the help of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This is the 12th rehabilitated sea turtle to be returned to the wild by SeaWorld Orlando just this year alone.
This milestone is just another great example of the work that SeaWorld does to protect all sea life. For over 50 years, they have been helping ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned animals that need help with one goal in mind: getting them healthy and back out into the wild.
More than 29,000 animals in total have been rescued by the expert animal rescue team at SeaWorld that is on call 24/7. If you see an injured marine animal, please help by calling the FWC hotline at 888-404-3922 or by dialing *FWC on a cellular device.