JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A young adolescent sea turtle was released into the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday morning, following a lengthy rehabilitation after losing a front flipper at the Florida Turtle Hospital.
The turtle, affectionately named Dilly Dally, was admitted to the Loggerhead Marine Life Center in January, suffering from predator injuries to her front flipper. The veterinary team at the Juno Beach facility worked diligently to rehabilitate and care for her.
“Every time we can return a turtle to the wild, it’s a momentous occasion—not just for us, but also for our interns, volunteers, and everyone involved in the effort to restore these turtles to health. It’s always a truly special day,” said a representative.
Despite stormy weather threatening to delay Dilly Dally’s release, the team managed to transport the turtle a short distance to the beach, where she headed towards the ocean to the cheers of the crowd.
The satellite tracker affixed to Dilly Dally’s shell enables both the center and the public to monitor her journey.
The center collaborated with the Smithsonian to secure the satellite tag, which was attached on Tuesday.
“Dilly Dally now has an active satellite tag, providing real-time data on her movements. This is particularly exciting as we can observe her journey as a turtle with three flippers,” the representative noted.
All species of sea turtles are classified as endangered or threatened.
“Every sea turtle we can rescue and release back into the wild is a triumph for the species,” they added.
Follow Dilly Dally’s journey Marine Life Turtle Tracker.
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Furisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Source: apnews.com