JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. — The largest sea turtle release in Georgia's history happened in Jekyll Island on Wednesday, after 34 turtles spent months receiving treatment.
The group of 33 Kemp's ridley sea turtles and one green sea turtle were treated for hypothermia-related conditions including pneumonia, dehydration, and trauma under the care of four facilities on the East Coast. The group is now back in the ocean following Wednesday's release.
Kemp ridley sea turtles are critically endangered and are threatened by fisheries interactions, climate change, ocean pollution, and degradation of their habitat. Rescue and rehabilitation efforts help to conserve this species.
“The rehabilitation and release of just one critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle can have a huge impact on the population, and we are grateful to play a part in the critical conservation efforts for this species,” said Sarah Callan, manager of Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program, which sent two of the turtles involved in Wednesday’s release event.
The sea turtles spent the last four to five months under rehabilitation care for "cold-stunning, an annual phenomenon that happens in the Northeast when water and air temperatures gradually drop late in the year," according to a news release.
More than a dozen staff members from the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, Mystic Aquarium, New England Aquarium, and New York Marine Rescue Center were there to help with the release, and cheered as the turtles were carried into the water.
Volunteer pilots from the nonprofit organization, Turtles Fly Too, flew some of the turtles from Massachusetts and New York to Georgia. This allowed them to reach their destination quickly and with limited stress.
Photos: Groups release 34 rehabilitated sea turtles off Georgia beach
"Turtles Fly Too pilots have airlifted thousands of endangered sea turtles in the past decade. Providing this scope of air support for this crucial conservation effort is a great honor," said Leslie Weinstein, president of Turtles Fly Too, who was on Jekyll Island for the release event.
Eleven of the New England Aquarium’s turtles were released Wednesday, including Kemp’s ridleys “Mulberry” and “Mayflower” and one green sea turtle, “Delphinium.”
"These turtles that stranded late last year have certainly received wonderful care and are fully recovered as we send them back home,” said Adam Kennedy, director of rescue and rehabilitation at the New England Aquarium.
The release was made possible through all of these organizations joining together.
“We are so thankful for these great partnerships within the network to support getting these turtles back home to the ocean,” said Maxine Montello, executive director of New York Marine Rescue Center, which released five Kemp’s ridley sea turtles.
“This event is a great example of how the sum of working together has a greater impact than working individually. Thank you to Turtles Fly Too and our network partners for their continued support in making these transports possible,” said Robert A. DiGiovanni, Jr., executive director and chief scientist of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society. The organization rehabilitated 16 of the Kemp’s ridleys released Wednesday.
This marks the state's largest sea turtle release on record. It's a remarkable feat for sea turtle conservation.
“We are honored that Jekyll Island could serve as the host beach location on the Atlantic coast for the release of these rehabilitated sea turtles as they make their way to warmer waters," said Michelle Kaylor, director of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.