SeaWorld San Diego releases rescued sea turtles back into the ocean

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — SeaWorld San Diego has announced their rescue team has successfully returned two rescued sea turtles back into the Pacific Ocean after being rehabilitated.

SeaWorld San Diego on Tuesday said Sir Acha the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle and Zara the Loggerhead Sea Turtle were released back into the ocean after being found cold-stunned in separate areas in Oregon.

Olive Ridley Sea Turtles and Loggerhead Sea Turtles are both listed and protected under the Endangered Species Act. Both animals were rescued by organizations in the Pacific Northwest and were flown to SeaWorld San Diego by Turtles Fly Too.

SeaWorld says Sir Acha was rescued from the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Oregon and brought to southern California to warm up after his rescuers learned he was cold-stunned. The Oregon Coast Aquarium rescued the sea turtle on Nov. 19, 2023 after receiving calls about a stranded sea turtle at Beachside State Recreational Site near Waldport, Oregon.

Zara the Loggerhead Sea Turtle was found stranded and cold-stunned on South Beach, Newport, Oregon earlier this year and was transferred to SeaWorld San Diego after initially being cared for at the Oregon Coast Aquarium and SR3 in Washington. Zara’s rehabilitation included bringing her temperature back up to normal, regaining her mobility and appetite, nutritional support and weight gain. She also recovered from pneumonia.

According to NOAA , cold-stunning is when sea turtles become weak and inactive and unable to swim from exposure to cold temperatures, typically when waters are below 50˚F.

To date, SeaWorld has rescued more than 40,000 sick, injured and orphaned animals.

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