PONCE INLET BEACH, Fla. — On Ponce Inlet Beach, staff and volunteers from the Marine Science Center stood flanked on both sides by nearly one hundred beachgoers. However, those beachgoers weren’t there for the sunshine. The mix of locals and tourists were there to see seven animals released back into the wild after spending weeks, or even months, in rehabilitative care at the Marine Science Center’s veterinary hospitals.
Six Green Sea Turtles and one Brown Pelican were officially discharged, some of whom had been in veterinary care since April. The pelican had suffered entanglement injuries from fishing line, as did some of the turtles. Others had infected wounds, were stuck with fishhooks, or had come down with illness. The Marine Science Center says many of these injuries are common and most are caused by human activity.
The Center has cared for about 243 sea turtles this year alone, not counting nearly 250 hatchlings that were washed back to shore throughout the nesting season. Since their founding in 2002, the Manager of Turtle Rehabilitation, Allie Bernstein, says they’ve cared for over 21,000 turtles.
All six of the turtles released during the public event were juveniles who had to be walked back into the ocean. Six volunteers carried them past the first few waves, giving them enough room to swim out against the current. Demonstrating why, a young turtle named Mangrove Snapper was washed back into the arms of a volunteer courtesy of a strong wave, who carried the turtle out once again.
As her team high-fived and hugged behind her, Bernstein told Channel 9 how excited they all were to see the turtles recover, saying, “This is what we’re here for. We want to be able to educate the public, and we also want to get the animals we rehabilitate back out there and get them part of the breeding population so sea turtles can live on as long as possible.”
If you come across an injured animal, Bernstein recommends calling the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Beach Patrol, and to call the Marine Science Center directly. If confronted with a beached sea turtle, don’t push them back into the water, as they may be sick or injured and will not be able to resurface, which they must do in order to breathe.
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