Aquarium of the Pacific Releases Rescued Green Sea Turtle Into the Wild After Surgery and Rehabilitation
The sixty-pound turtle was rescued earlier this month with a fishing hook in its right shoulder.
Credit: Robin Riggs
October 30, 2024
October 30, 2024, Long Beach, California—After nearly four weeks of care at the Aquarium of the Pacific, a rescued green sea turtle has now returned home. Aquarium staff released the sea turtle in Seal Beach, California. The release location was chosen because it is a common year-round habitat for this sea turtle species.
The green sea turtle was rescued in the San Gabriel River on October 3, 2024, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The turtle was transferred to the Aquarium of the Pacific for a medical evaluation and care because of the Aquarium’s expertise in treating and releasing stranded and injured sea turtles.
“This turtle had a mass in its right shoulder that was consistent with an embedded hook surrounded by an abscess. We surgically removed the barbed fishing hook and treated the turtle with antibiotics and wound care, and it recovered in a matter of weeks.”
Animal care staff from the Aquarium of the Pacific carry the green sea turtle towards the water's edge. Credit: Robin Riggs
The sea turtle is approximately twenty-six inches in length and weighs sixty pounds. It is a subadult and is estimated to be between ten and fifteen years old. This rescue happened during NOAA’s routine Sea Turtle Health and Monitoring Program, which included participation from Aquarium of the Pacific staff members. “During the research, three turtles were brought ashore for assessment. Two of the turtles were tagged and released at the river. The third turtle was brought to the Aquarium for surgery and rehabilitation based on its condition,” said Cassandra Davis, Aquarium of the Pacific director of volunteer services, who oversees the Aquarium’s participation in monitoring the sea turtles in that river.
Aquarium volunteers gather weekly and monthly field data on the green sea turtles seen in the San Gabriel River through a community science program. The field data collected by volunteer community scientists is recorded and used to better understand how sea turtles interact in this area and throughout Southern California. If you see an entangled sea turtle in Southern California, call NOAA’s 24/7 hotline: 562-506-4315.
The Aquarium of the Pacific has rehabilitated and released rescued sea turtles since 2000. Some have been fitted with satellite tracking devices that allowed scientists to gather data about their migration patterns and habitats. The Aquarium recently rehabilitated and released a rescued green sea turtle in May 2024 and a loggerhead sea turtle in October 2024. All species of sea turtles found in waters of the United States are listed as either endangered or threatened and are protected by the Endangered Species Act. Their numbers have fallen to the point that every turtle is important to the future of the species.
