Out to Sea

NINE RESCUED SEA TURTLES RETURN TO THE OCEAN

Alexandra Little, Senior Wildlife Care Specialist at the Aquarium’s Willdife Rescue Center, carried a large turquoise box carefully down a marine dock and gently placed the container inside a waiting Texas Parks & Wildlife Department boat. Lying inside this box, and several others, was some seriously precious cargo: nine rescued green sea turtles. These marine reptiles, representing four different species, were on the last leg of their voyage towards home, the Gulf of Mexico. But their story might

have ended on a lonely stretch of beach, if not for the dedication and hard work of Little, her colleagues at the Aquarium’s Wildlife Rescue Center, and the Aquarium’s conservation partners.

When these hawksbill, green, loggerhead, and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles arrived at the Wildlife Rescue Center last spring, staff quickly got to work treating their various injuries and ailments, ranging from dehydration to lethargy. After these animals were stabilized, they realized they’d reached another landmark in the Rescue Center’s storied history. This was the first time in the Aquarium’s nearly 30- year history that they’d treated four different sea turtle species at the same time. Each species came with its own challenges, but over several months of care and attention, these sea turtles slowly regained the ability to swim and eat on their own.

Now, armed with these reacquired skills, these sea turtles were back on track to begin the rest of their lives. At this point in their lives, these young sea turtles would have moved to the open ocean, where they feed and shelter in floating sargassum beds. To get them there, Aquarium staff called their friends at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, who graciously

offered a Texas Game Warden boat along with two game wardens to assist with transport and logistics. On a sunny Friday afternoon, the turtles were loaded up, transported to the docks, and rescue staff and turtles motored away towards the open ocean.

sea turtle was gently placed into the ocean, where natural instinct took over immediately. They each paddled away, seemingly eager to begin the next phase of their lives.

Finally, a perfect spot was found approximately 10 miles out to sea. Each

This was the first time in the Aquarium’s nearly 30-year history they’d treated four different sea turtle species at the same time. Each species came with its own challenges, but over several months of care and attention, these sea turtles slowly regained the ability to swim and eat on their own.

We wish them the best on their journey! To learn more about our turtle rescue program, visit: www.texasstateaquarium.org/turtlerescue