Bon Voyage! Six turtles released back into the ocean after months of rehabilitation

April 10, 2024

Every year, hundreds of sea turtles are beached or stranded in cold water due to injury, disease, illness, or environmental threats. The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Second Chance Program is helping change their stories through rescue, veterinary care, rehabilitation, and release back into the wild.

The program has been rescuing and rehabilitating sea turtles every year for over a decade. Our most recent bale of turtles arrived in December 2023, after being rescued from cool water that left their bodies stunned. Nestled within the upper Aquarium and viewable from an outside window, the Pittsburgh Zoo’s sea turtle rehabilitation center provides world-class care with the goal of release and a renewed hope for survival for every turtle. During their recovery, the turtles were given a restorative diet and physical rehabilitation by the Zoo’s animal care staff until they were fit for rerelease.

In April 2024, the turtles were cleared to return to the ocean. The team from the Zoo left Pittsburgh on Monday, April 8th for Little Talbot Island State Park, Florida. To keep the animals comfortable during the long drive, the transport van was kept at 75 degrees and the team stopped multiple times to apply lubricant and eye ointment to the turtles.

The team arrived at Little Talbot Island in the late morning on Tuesday, April 9. At the beach, the team was greeted by park rangers and a crowd of people eager to watch the release.

After a few moments of trying to figure out how to move in the sand, the turtles made their way to open water within 15 minutes. Despite the short goodbye, the turtle recovery and release remains inspiring to see.