Rescued Sea Turtle to Return to the Wild After Receiving Veterinary Care from the Aquarium of the Pacific

August 12, 2019

Members of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s veterinary and animal husbandry staff will release a rehabilitated 50 pound green sea turtle near the mouth of the San Gabriel River in Seal Beach, California, on August 15, 2019.

Staff members of The Marine Mammal Center’s Morro Bay based operations rescued the sea turtle and brought it to the Aquarium of the Pacific for a medical evaluation and care because of the Aquarium’s expertise in treating and releasing stranded and injured sea turtles.

The release location was chosen for its warm water temperatures and because it is a common migratory habitat for this sea turtle species. Aquarium volunteers conduct a monthly count of green sea turtles seen in the river through a citizen science program. To learn more, visit aquariumofpacific.org and click on Conservation.

The Aquarium of the Pacific has rehabilitated and released several sea turtles in recent years, including green sea turtles and loggerhead sea turtles. Some have been fitted with satellite tracking devices that allowed scientists to gather data about their migration patterns and habitats. The sea turtle being released on August 15 is fitted with a microchip ID. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, breeding colony populations of green sea turtles in Florida and on the Pacific Coast of Mexico are listed as endangered; all others are listed as threatened.

When: Thursday, August 15, 2019 – Aquarium staff members plan to arrive at the location to release the rescued sea turtle at 10:00 a.m.

Media RSVP: To RSVP for the media opportunity to watch as the sea turtle is released, please contact Marilyn Padilla at MPadilla@lbaop.org or (562) 951-1684.

Where: 15 1st Street, Seal Beach, California, 90740: Aquarium staff members will release the turtle from the rocks or from the sand beach about 100 to 200 feet from the parking lot, depending on the tide level.