July 7, 2017
Today NEST and the North Caroline Aquarium on Roanoke Island celebrated the release of 10… yes 10! … happy turtles back to the ocean. It was a beautiful morning on Coquina Beach and hundreds of onlookers witnessed the release.
Turtles and onlookers anxiously await the release
Most of these turtles were caught by March 2017 cold stun events, rescued by NEST volunteers and then brought to the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation Center (STAR) Center at the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Since then NEST voilunteers and STAR center staff have diligently worked to provide medical care and TLC to the ailing turtles. Young turtles are prone to cold stun when water temperatures in the shallow Pamlico Sound drop precipitously during cold weather. The ten released today included juvenile Green, Kemps Ridley and Loggerhead sea turtles.
Green sea turtle “Blogg” on his way to the ocean
Juvenile Green “Dr. Dake” on his way home after nearly 4 months at the STAR Center
“Aunt Annie” stranded with low blood sugar and hundreds of barnacles from unknown causes now on her way home after a short stay in rehab!
More information on these and other sea turtles stranded on the Outer Banks and still at the STAR Center can be found at www.nestonline.org/rescue-rehab/.