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Aquarium Caring for Rescued Loggerhead Sea Turtle
The Aquarium is providing care and rehabilitation to a rescued loggerhead sea turtle with the hopes of releasing it back into the wild
Credit: Robin Riggs
August 1, 2024
A loggerhead sea turtle is behind the scenes at the Aquarium, where it is receiving care and rehabilitation after the Marine Mammal Center in San Luis Obispo rescued it near Avila Beach on June 17, 2024, and transferred it to the Aquarium with authorization from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).
The turtle is twenty-two inches in length and weighs around fifty pounds. “Upon arrival, this sea turtle was hypothermic, in poor body condition with flipper wounds and eye ulcers, and dehydrated. We also took x-rays that showed that the turtle had a mild pneumonia,” said Dr. Brittany Stevens, Aquarium of the Pacific veterinarian.
When it arrived, the turtle was warmed slowly to a normal temperature, started on antibiotics, and received hydration fluids, eye ointment, and care for its flipper wounds. “We have been giving the sea turtle a daily diet of mixed restaurant-quality seafood to help improve its strength and restore it to a healthy body condition,” said Stacy Hammond, Aquarium of the Pacific aquarist.
Loggerhead sea turtles have a wide habitat range, so the status of this species is determined by specific regions. In the northern Pacific Ocean, loggerhead sea turtles are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, according to NOAA.
The Aquarium of the Pacific has rehabilitated and released 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 last rescued loggerhead sea turtle brought to the Aquarium was rehabilitated and released back into the ocean in November 2015. The Aquarium recently rehabilitated and released a rescued green sea turtle in May 2024.