An olive ridley sea turtle rescued nearly one year ago was finally released into the wild after 10 months of rehabilitation.
On Wednesday, about 10 miles off the coast of San Diego, Emily Carroll from SeaWorld San Diego's animal rescue team and Amy Olsen from the Seattle Aquarium returned "Coral" back to the ocean.
Coral was found last October on an Oregon beach. She was emaciated, weak, and suffering from hypothermia. She was rushed to the Seattle Aquarium, where staff spent three months nursing her back to health.
She was sent to SeaWorld for rehabilitation, where she spent the last seven months recovering. It's the only place on the West Coast that can provide long-term rehab care for sea turtles.
Coral is a young but mature female. That's why returning her to the wild is so important. It will give her a chance to reproduce and help her own species recover.
If you come across a sea turtle, experts say it's important not to touch them or get too close. Take a picture and call local authorities. In Oregon, the Oregon State Police Wildlife Division can be reached at 1-800-452-7888 or the Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 1-866-767-6114. In Washington, call the Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 1-866-767-6114.
You can also visit the USFWS Pacific Region sea turtles Q&A page.
