Endangered Sea Turtles Returned to the Ocean

[Stu]

The SeaWorld Orlando rescue team returned 16 endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles to the waters near Canaveral National Seashore, Florida on 19 February after months of rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando’s critical care facility.

Last December, 15 of the sea turtles were rescued from frigid waters off the coast of New England by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, suffering from cold stunning. They were initially stabilized at the New England Aquarium before being flown to SeaWorld Orlando for additional treatment.

Upon arrival in Orlando, SeaWorld’s animal care team conducted full examinations to determine the best treatment for each turtle. Many of the animals were suffering from pneumonia; some were also treated for corneal ulcers, malnutrition and other effects of cold stunning. After three months of individualised care, consisting of antibiotics, fluids and special diets, the turtles were cleared for return to the ocean.

The 16th turtle, also a Kemps ridley, was rescued earlier this winter from the Atlantic Coast. After months of treatment including a daily nebuliser treatment to treat pneumonia, the turtle was able to be part of the ocean return.

Kemp's ridleys are the most endangered species of sea turtle. Human interference, nest disruption and habitat loss are just some of the reasons for the population decline.

In collaboration with government agencies and partner marine life facilities, more than 2,000 sea turtles have been rescued by the SeaWorld Rescue team since 1980. For more than 50 years, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has helped animals in need – ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. More than 33,000 animals have been rescued by the expert animal rescue team, which is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

©SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment

[Andi]

Fantastic news and well done SeaWorld.

[olgaandcoda]

The pictures show how keen they are to see the sea again! Wonderful work by SeaWorld staff.

[Seaworldlovers]

This is exactly why I love visiting seaworld so much so they can continue to do such worthwhile work

[Gryff]

I had a wonderful day at Sea World iJanuary on my own doing the
Ensuing encounter and Walrus encounter and just happened to ask about a very badly injured manatee we'd seen last March then again in September and again in November I got a one to one session with
The manatee staff about her progress she is ready to go back out to the wild by the end of March after a year of care Red Tide did delay the return of some of there manatees this season but they do amazing work and every trainer I've met has there charges welfare top priority
They do amazing things

[Jiljo]

That’s great news!
Yesterday we visited the Georgia Sea Turtle Rescue Centre on Jekyll Island, which also does fantastic work. The majority of the ‘patients’ were suffering from hypothermia, but recovering well. We also witnessed an operation on a very poorly gopher tortoise, whose leg had almost been destroyed by a dog attack.
It’s heartening to see the work such places do.

[JAF]

Seaworld have been helping with animal rescue and rehabilitation for years which can prove very expensive. Our son was a marine medic when studying marine biology at University of Miami and said they were always willing to help out.

[bennyboy0751]

brilliant work well done team well done the makers of blackfish should see this and the manatee rescues and returns instead of relying on disgruntled sacked staff with an issue they nearly finished sea world im so glad its turned around now well done be there in november cant wait