Five rehabilitated sea turtles returned to the Gulf on the morning of Oct. 1 when the Gulfarium CARE Center released them at Inlet Beach Regional Access.
A crowd gathered along the shoreline to watch loggerheads Waffles, Bashful and Pepper, Kemp’s ridley Buzz and green sea turtle Coconut go back into the water after their stays at the center. All five had been treated for hooks.
The release, along with several others scheduled throughout Walton County this year, was held in partnership with the St. Joe Community Foundation, which supports the center’s rescue and rehabilitation work.
“Being able to release five turtles in one morning is a great reminder of why every part of the rehabilitation process matters,” said Sarah Kamen, stranding coordinator at the Gulfarium CARE Center. “Each of these turtles came to us with a different story and different needs, and seeing them healthy and ready to return to the Gulf is what our team works toward every day.”
The five turtles
Waffles, a 140-pound subadult loggerhead, was back at the CARE Center for his second rehabilitation stay after being accidentally hooked at the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier. A further examination found five hooks internally, according to the center, and he was able to naturally pass the remaining hooks and fishing line during rehabilitation.
Bashful, a 68-pound subadult loggerhead, was admitted after being accidentally hooked at the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier. A treble hook lodged deep in his throat was removed under sedation, and he was cleared for release after several days of monitoring.
Buzz, a 7-pound Kemp’s ridley, was accidentally hooked in the mouth on Pensacola Beach. The hook was removed during intake, and Buzz recovered after supportive care and monitoring.
Coconut, a 59-pound subadult green sea turtle and a returning CARE Center patient, was accidentally hooked at the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier. She naturally passed an internal hook and continued to recover throughout her month of supportive care.
Pepper, a 114-pound loggerhead and also a returning patient, was admitted with an internal hook that required surgery. Following the procedure and continued rehabilitation, Pepper’s surgical site healed well and he was cleared for release.
Reporting a sea turtle in distress
Anyone who sees a sea turtle that is in distress, injured or dead is asked to report it immediately to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-404-3922).
The CARE Center and its patients can be visited as part of a general admission ticket to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. The center also shares patient stories, releases and conservation efforts on its Facebook page.
The Gulfarium CARE Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on marine animal rescue and rehabilitation.
