Charleston Aquarium Celebrates Release of Rescued Sea Turtles Back into Ocean

Charleston, S.C.: A Heartwarming Day for Sea Turtles

In a cheerful celebration of nature’s resilience, the South Carolina Aquarium recently released four adorable sea turtles back into their ocean home. It was a touching day for everyone involved as three green sea turtles and one Kemp’s ridley turtle took their first real breaths of salty air after months of intensive rehabilitation.

A New Lease on Life

This particular release might just be the last local South Carolina event of the year, making it even more special. These turtles had quite a journey before making it to the clear blue waters of the ocean. Three out of the four had been dealing with severe gastrointestinal issues, making their recovery even more remarkable.

Meet the Turtles

The first turtle to make a splash was Biscuit, a green sea turtle whose story is a true testament to overcoming adversity. Biscuit was discovered in North Myrtle Beach, washed ashore and looking absolutely worn out. Imagine a turtle covered in barnacles, algae, and with a sad flipper in distress! Biscuit was emaciated, indicating they needed a serious spa day and a little TLC. With the right medical care and some love, Biscuit went from feeling down to fully ready for life in the wild.

Next up was Debby, named after the tropical storm that caused quite the ruckus in Hilton Head Island. Debby became stranded during the storm and was found covered in barnacles and algae as well! This turtle was also having trouble swimming because of a long piece of ribbon that got caught in their stomach. Thankfully, after some careful monitoring and treatment, Debby passed the pesky ribbon and got right back on track for a safe return home.

Then, there was Grits, the final green sea turtle of the day. Grits was in a bit of a sticky situation when they were found floating in Shem Creek. Grits had gathered a heavy blanket of algae and seaweed, not to mention a fracture in the shell! After receiving antibiotics and fluids, the team worked diligently, ensuring Grits made a full recovery. And let me tell you, the excitement of watching Grits dive back into the ocean was priceless!

Yogurt—A Different Kind of Turtle

Yogurt, the lone Kemp’s ridley turtle of the group. Yogurt’s journey was quite different, as this little turtle was accidentally caught by a fisherman off the Cherry Grove Pier. After a bit of sedation for comfort, aquarium staff managed to deftly remove a hook lodged in Yogurt’s upper esophagus. With the hook gone and healing underway, Yogurt was also ready to join the other turtles in the wild.

The Journey Continues

South Carolina Aquarium still has nine other patients recuperating in their Sea Turtle Care Center. Here’s hoping every single one of them can find their way back to the waves soon.

In Charleston, it’s moments like these that brighten our days and rekindle hope for our planet’s precious wildlife. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for more happy returns in the coming months!