Rescued Sea Turtle Returns to the Wild After Receiving Veterinary Care at the Aquarium

September 18, 2018

Members of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s veterinary and animal husbandry staff will release a rehabilitated green sea turtle in Seal Beach, California, on September 18, 2018. The sea turtle is a 21-inch-long juvenile that was rescued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) with an injury from a fishing hook in Morro Bay. CDFW first took the sea turtle to The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito for treatment, but it was soon transferred to the Aquarium of the Pacific because of the facility’s expertise in treating and releasing sea turtles with this type of injury.

The sea turtle will be released near the mouth of the San Gabriel River. This location was chosen for its warm water temperatures and because it is a common migratory habitat for this species. Aquarium volunteers count the population of sea turtles seen in the river through a citizen science program that meets monthly. To learn more, visit aquariumofpacific.org and click on Conservation.

The Aquarium of the Pacific has rehabilitated and released several sea turtles in recent years, including green sea turtles and loggerhead sea turtles. Some have been fitted with satellite tracking devices that allowed scientists to gather data about their migration patterns and habitats. The sea turtle being released on September 18 is fitted with a microchip ID. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, breeding colony populations of green sea turtles in Florida and on the Pacific Coast of Mexico are listed as endangered; all others are listed as threatened.

When: Tuesday, September 18, 2018 – Aquarium staff expect to arrive to the location to release the rescued sea turtle at 9:30 a.m. Viewing the release will be open to the public.

Where: 15 1st Street, Seal Beach, California, 90740: Depending on the tide level Aquarium staff will release from the rocks or from the sand beach about 100 to 200 feet from the parking lot.