SeaWorld Orlando Returns 14 Sea Turtles to Seashore

(Orlando) – 14 sea turtles -- 11 Kemps Ridley and three loggerheads -- were returned to Canaveral National Seashore in Titusville, Fla., this morning after rehabilitating at SeaWorld Orlando for several months.

These sea turtles were brought to SeaWorld Orlando on December 23, 2012, by a U.S. Coast Guard Airplane, after being rescued just off the coast of Cape Cod, Mass., due to symptoms they suffered from cold stress. After being medically cleared for today’s return, the park’s Animal Rescue Team transported the 14 turtles to Canaveral National Seashore.

The Kemps Ridley sea turtles ranged in length from 9-13 inches and weighed between 5-13 pounds while the loggerhead sea turtles were about 2-feet long and weighed between 65-85 pounds.

In collaboration with the government and other members of accredited stranding networks, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates one of the world’s most respected programs to rescue ill and injured marine animals, with the goal to rehabilitate and return to the waters. SeaWorld animal experts have helped more than 22,000 animals in need - ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned - for more than four decades. So far this year, SeaWorld Orlando has rescued nine turtles and returned 20.

If you see injured sea turtles, you can help by calling the FWC hotline at 1(888) 404-3922 or by dialing *FWC on a cellular device.

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