#SeaWorldRescue Team Returns First Turtles of 2015 #SeaWorldCares

SeaWorld Orlando Animal Rescue Team Returns First Turtles of 2015

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On January 21st, following months of rehabilitation, the SeaWorld Animal Rescue Team returned two juvenile, green sea turtles.  The first sea turtle was returned to Wabasso Beach, near Vero Beach, Fla., by the SeaWorld Animal Rescue Team and the second was returned into the Trident Basin, near Port Canaveral, Fla., by Canaveral Air Force Station Biologist Karen Halloway-Adkins. Both sea turtles were rescued in September 2014 by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).  

The first sea turtle was found with a hook through the left side of its face at Orchid Island, City of Vero Beach Fla. Radiographs later revealed a second hook lodged inside the turtle’s esophagus. The SeaWorld Veterinarian Team successfully removed both hooks and treated the turtle with antibiotics. Since its arrival, the sea turtle gained 3 pounds, weighing 12 pounds at the time of return. The sea turtle also grew almost an inch to measure more than 13 inches long.

The second sea turtle arrived with a wound to its carapace (shell) that was partially healed. The sea turtle received a full veterinary exam, radiographs and antibiotics, and the team debrided the wound with honey – which removes old, dead tissue to help eliminate infection and speed up the healing process. Since arriving at SeaWorld for rehabilitation, this sea turtle nearly doubled its weight (arrived at more than five pounds and weighed almost 10 at time of return) and grew over an inch to more than 12 inches.

For more than 45 years, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has helped animals in need — ill, injured and orphaned. More than 24,000 animals have been rescued by our experts. Our animal rescue team is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

So far this year the SeaWorld Orlando Animal Rescue Team has rescued three sea turtles and returned two back to their natural environment.

To stay up to date with animal rescues and returns, and to learn about all of SeaWorld’s conservation efforts, please visit SeaworldCares.com and follow us on FacebookTwitterInstagram and YouTube.

 Join the conversation using #SeaWorldCares and #SeaWorldRescue.

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