SeaWorld Orlando Rescue Brings Green Sea Turtle Home
By SeaWorld Orlando // August 16, 2013
RESCUE TEAM SAVES FOUR EGGS
ABOVE VIDEO: Last April, 14 sea turtles — 11 Kemps Ridley and three loggerheads — were returned to Canaveral National Seashore in Titusville, Fla., after rehabilitating at SeaWorld Orlando for several months. Thee sea turtles were brought to SeaWorld Orlando on December 23, 2012, by a U.S. Coast Guard Airplane, after being rescued just off the coast of Cape Cod, Mass., due to symptoms they suffered from cold stress. After being medically cleared for today’s return, the park’s Animal Rescue Team transported the 14 turtles to Canaveral National Seashore. (SeaWorld Orlando video)
By Hanna Johansen, Marketing Coordinator, Public Relations
BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA – A 360-pound green sea turtle was returned to the waters off of Cocoa Beach, Florida in Lori Wilson Park yesterday as the SeaWorld Orlando Rescue Team also assisted in returning four of her eggs, which were a surprise addition to the day’s return.
Just minutes before the turtle was moved to the SeaWorld Rescue vehicle, she began releasing eggs. Our rescue team was able to act quickly and gathered the eggs, which were transported in wet sand to the return site.
Upon arrival at Lori Wilson Park, the eggs were buried in a marked nest site by Don George, environmental consultant with Geomar who holds a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to handle sea turtle eggs. George inspected each egg before placing it in the marked nest site, located only yards away from where the female turtle was returned.
This green sea turtle was initially brought to our park on Monday by the University of Central Florida Marine Turtle Research Group. The UCF group spotted the turtle, which was lethargic and struggling after a nesting event at Cocoa Beach, Fla. The group was concerned the turtle was suffering from paralysis of its back flippers, so they felt medical attention was necessary.
When the sea turtle arrived, the team took blood samples and radiographs were done to determine an underlying cause to the turtle’s distress. Test results came back normal and the large sea turtle began regaining strength. She was medically cleared by our vet staff prior to today’s return.
So far this year, SeaWorld Orlando has rescued 51 and returned 43 sea turtles. To learn more about SeaWorld’s conservation efforts, visit SeaWorldCares.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for animal updates.
Green sea turtles are an endangered species that normally lay over 100 eggs per clutch. To report someone disturbing a sea turtle nest or an injured, dead or harassed sea turtle call 888-404-3922 or dial *FWC on a cellular device.
