Sea Turtle Tracking: Rehabilitated Sea Turtles
In 1998, STC partnered with the National Aquarium in Baltimore and the US Army Corps of Engineers to provide educational maps of the tracking a rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtle as part of its Satellite-Tracking Educational Program. In 2013, the Sea Turtle Conservancy, began working with sea turtle rehabilitation centers in Florida to track the movements of the turtles after being rehabilitated and released back into the wild.
For more information on sea turtles, check out the Sea Turtles Information section of our website.
Click on the turtle's name to see a map of its movements.
2021 Turtles
ASPARAGUS – Asparagus is a juvenile green sea turtle that was found stranded on Flagler Beach, Florida in March, 2021 with 95% of her carapace covered in epibiota. She also had moderate Fibropapilloma (FP). She was taken to the Sea Turtle Hospital @ University of Florida Whitney Laboratory. After months of rehabilitation, and removal of FP growths, Asparagus was healthy. She was released with a satellite tag on July 20, 2021. Asparagus measured 50.8 cm CCL (shell length) and is taking part in a study conducted by Mike Arendt with the South Carolina Dept of Natural Resources. She is on the smaller end of the mid-sized juvenile size class that is absent from the coastal size distribution and thus tracking her movements, particularly during the winter months, will provide important information. This is a collaborative effort between SCDNR, UF-Whitney Lab, and STC. Data © South Carolina Dept of Natural Resources.
EPO – Epo is a juvenile green sea turtle that was found stranded on Flagler Beach, Florida in March, 2021 as part of a cold stun event on Florida's east coast. Epo was taken to Volusia Marine Science Center for triage and was then later transferred to The Florida Aquarium for rehabilitation. Epo measured 36.2 cm CCL (shell length). After months of care, Epo was cleared for release and released with a satellite tag on August 25, 2021. Epo's satellite transmitter was sponsored by Tampa Electric (TECO).
CASSI – Cassi is a juvenile green sea turtle that was found stranded on Ormond Beach, Florida in March, 2021 as part of a cold stun event on Florida's east coast. Cassi was taken to Volusia Marine Science Center for triage and was then later transferred to The Florida Aquarium for rehabilitation. Cassi measured 38.4 cm CCL (shell length). After months of care, Cassi was cleared for release and was released with a satellite tag on August 25, 2021. Cassi's satellite transmitter was sponsored by Verizon.
FOXY – Foxy (aka Foxy Charlie) is an adult green sea turtle found on October 1, 2020 in the waters of Islamorada, Florida and entangled in a trap line around a large tumor on its back flipper. She was taken to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, FL. On October 3, Dr. Brooke removed a tumor that weighed 6 lbs. In early November additional tumors were removed. She was cleared for release and weighed nearly 200 lbs. She was released with a satellite transmitter on Feb 3, 2021.
LUCKY PULSE – Lucky Pulse was rescued west of Horseshoe Key earlier this year where she was found entangled in trap line with a heavy load of fibropapilloma tumors. She measured 48.6 cm straight carapace (shell) length and she has beaten the odds and made a full recovery. Lucky Pulse had a 4 pound fibropapilloma tumor in addition to other tumors surgically removed. Her treatment at the Turtle Hospital included a whole blood transfusion, bronchoscopes, breathing treatments, surgeries, broad spectrum antibiotics, fluids, vitamins and a healthy diet of greens and mixed seafood. When released, Lucky Pulse was feisty, tumor free and back to good health! Her transmitter was sponsored by The Turtle Hospital.
RAINN – Rainn (in honor of Rainn Wilson) is an adult loggerhead and was rescued by biologists at Inwater Research Group from the St. Lucie Power Plant on Nov 3, 2020. When Rainn arrived, she was extremely lethargic and had barnacles and marine leeches covering the carapace, indicating the turtle has been lethargic and injured for a while. Under treatment by staff at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility, Rainn started eating and becoming more active within a week of arrival. On January 26, 2021, Rainn was released with a satellite transmitter to monitor her behavior once back in the wild.
MAISY – Maisy, a very special sea turtle was rescued off of Summerland Key on 4th of July, 2019 where she was found covered in tumors. Maisy did not look like the other turtles, she had characteristics of both a hawksbill and a green sea turtle. DNA testing confirmed Maisy is a rare hawksbill/green sea turtle. Maisy was treated at the Turtle Hospital for fibropapillomatosis and a severe case of pneumonia. Treatment included multiple tumor removal surgeries, several bronchoscopy procedures, nebulizer breathing treatments, broad spectrum antibiotics, vitamins, fluids and a healthy diet of seafood and greens. Maisy is feisty, tumor free and back to good health! She is sponsored by The Turtle Hospital.
RICHARD – Richard is a female juvenile green sea turtle that was found stranded on Daytona Beach, Florida, in April, 2020. She was very emaciated and was taken to the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory Sea Turtle Hospital. After months of rehabilitation, Richard was doing very well as was released with a satellite tag on November 2, 2020. Richard measured 48 cm SCL (shell length) is taking part in a study conducted by Mike Arendt with the South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources. Despite nearly exponential increases in green sea turtle nesting in Florida since the 1990's, coastal encounters with green turtles remain quite rare. In addition to the lack of overall captures, the small size of green sea turtles also limited data collection with 81% of the green turtles measuring <35 cm SCL. smaller end of the mid-sized juvenile that is absent from the coastal size distribution, and hence the importance of tracking her movements, particularly during the winter months. This is a collabrative effort between SCDNR, Florida FWC, UF-Whitney Lab, and STC. Learn more about the project. Data © South Carolina Dept of Natural Resources.
KIRBY – An adult male loggerhead weighing 101.2 kg and 96.7 cm curved carapace length. Kirby was was found floating near Indian Rocks Beach on January 29, 2019. Kirby was rescued and had a T-shaped wound on his head, several barnacles and algae on his carapace. He also had a buoyancy issue suspected to be caused by a GI tract problem. He was treated at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and was released on May 14, 2019 with a satellite transmitter.
ST. THOMAS – St. Thomas was rescued in October, 2018, 3 miles offshore of Big Coppitt Key where he was found debilitated and covered in Fibropapilloma tumors. St. Thomas' treatment at the Turtle Hospital included five tumor removal surgeries, broad spectrum antibiotics, anti-parasitic medications, vitamins, and a healthy diet of fish, squid and greens. St. Thomas is strong and tumor free! St. Thomas was released with a small transmitter on July 19, 2019.
YAMATO – Yamato is an adult female green sea turtle released on October 17th, 2019 from Gumbo Limbo Nature Center's Rehabilitation Facility. She was gravid and suffered from a boat strike injury to the carapace which left her partially paralyzed. With a little help from our rehab team, her injuries were treated and she successfully passed all of her eggs. After 3 short months, Yamato made a full recovery and was released at Spanish River Park, FL. Yamato measured 105.0 cm straight carapace length and weighed 160.0 kg upon release! Data © Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.
BOWSER – An adult male loggerhead weighing 85.2 kg and 83.5 cm curved carapace length. Bowser was found floating and swimming sideways around St. John's Sound, between Honeymoon Island State Park and Fred Howard Park on June 13, 2018. This was most likely due to gastrointestinal gas. He was treated at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and was released on October 18, 2018 with a satellite transmitter.
COCO – A 215 pound adult male loggerhead sea turtle was rescued 9 miles offshore of Marathon in the Florida Bay and taken to the Turtle Hospital on February 27th, 2018. Coco was very thin and covered in barnacles and algae. X-rays revealed a severe intestinal impaction and pneumonia. Treatment included IV nutrition, broad spectrum antibiotics, lactulose, fluids and eventually, when he began eating, a healthy diet of fish and squid. It is a rare opportunity to track an adult male sea turtle. Coco is healthy and ready to go back to sea! We are very interested to see where this big boy goes! Named by his sponsor and rehabilitation facility, The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida Keys.
DUNE – Dune is an adult female loggerhead sea turtle released on May 22, 2018 from Gumbo Limbo Nature Center's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility. Dune was found floating in the intracoastal unable to dive by boaters and reported to Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on February 24, 2018. Gumbo Limbo Rehabilitation Facility treated Dune for a lung infection, related buoyancy issues, and severe emaciation. After over four months of rehabilitation, Dune has completely recovered and deemed ready for release by the sea turtle veterinarian. Dune measured 84.6 cm straight carapace length and gained over 40 lbs during her rehabilitation, weighing 176 lbs upon release!
EUPHORIA – Euphorbia is an adult female loggerhead sea turtle released on November 13, 2018 from Gumbo Limbo Nature Center's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility. She was found wounded swimming in the intake canal of the Port Everglades power plant on April 3, 2018. Gumbo Limbo Rehabilitation Facility treated Euphorbia for multiple predator related injuries to her front flippers. After over six months of rehabilitation, Euphorbia has completely recovered from her injuries and is ready to return to the ocean. Euphorbia measured 90.7 cm straight carapace length and weighed 250 lbs upon release! Data © Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.
LITTLE MONEY – Little Money is a 365 pound adult female green sea turtle found by a boater beached on Money Key on June 20th. She was recused by the Turtle Hospital and FWC and was treated at the Turtle Hospital for gastrointestinal issues. Little Money received broad spectrum antibiotics, vitamins, fluids and a healthy diet. She is swimming strong, healthy and ready to return to her ocean home! Little Money is a mature female…there is a chance she may come back to shore to nest this season! Named by her sponsor and rehabilitation facility, The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida Keys.
WALTER – Walter is an adult, male loggerhead that stranded on June 4, 2018. He is 101.0 cm CCL (curved carapace length) long and 90.0 cm wide. He was rescued and taken to the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) in Sanibel, FL where he was treated for exposure to Red Tide. He is being satellite tagged as part of a study on the movement of adult male loggerheads conducted in cooperation with Mote Marine Laboratory. He was named in honor of CROW's 50th Anniversary and their Founder, Shirley J. Walter.
2017 Turtle
ARGUS – Argus is a juvenile green sea turtle rescued in July, 2016, 3 miles north of the 7 mile bridge in Marathon, where she was found with a trap line and buoy entangled around her rear flipper. Argus was taken to the Turtle Hospital for treatment. Argus' body and eyes were covered in Fibropapilloma tumors. Argus's treatment included two tumor removal surgeries, broad spectrum antibiotics, anti-parasitic medications, vitamins, and a healthy diet of squid and greens. Argus is strong and tumor free, with a weight of 75 lbs and a shell length of 67.9 cm, and took part in the 2017 Tour de Turtles.
FLEMING – Fleming was rescued in March, 2015 just 200 feet off of Fleming Key in Key West where a boat captain found him entangled in fishing line, tethered to a piece of pvc piping. Fleming's body and eyes were covered in Fibropapilloma tumors. Fleming treatment at the Turtle Hospital included five tumor removal surgeries, antibiotics, anti-parasitic medications, vitamins, and a healthy diet of squid and greens. After rehabilitation at the Turtle Hospital, Fleming is strong and tumor free, measuring 73.4 cm curved carapace length, 73.8 cm curved carapace width, and weighing 84 lbs. Fleming was fitted with a small transmitter on July 22, 2016 and released from Sombrero Beach, Florida Keys, FL.
KREACHER – Kreacher is a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle and weighs nearly 100 pounds. Kreacher was rescued a half a mile offshore Clearwater Beach on May 8th. She was found floating and distressed with moderate edema. She received a round of Total Parenteral Nutrition before moving to tube feeding and finally solid food. By the end of May Kreacher showed great improvement while at Clearwater Marine Aquarium and was selected to receive a satellite tag. Kreacher weighs over 43 kg and measured 68.0 cm in straight carapace (shell) length and 65.4 cm straight carapace width.
XENO – Xeno (short for Xenophilius) is a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle rescued about 15 miles offshore Clearwater Beach on September 17, 2016. She was found floating and unable to dive. X-rays showed that Xeno's intestine was compacted by an extensive amount of shell-like material. Clearwater Marine Aquarium provided treatment that included lots of liquid, helping Xeno pass the material, which turned about to be nearly 5 lbs of crushed shell. Just over a month later, Xeno showed great improvement and was selected to receive a satellite tag. Xeno measured 73.4 cm in curved carapace (shell) length and 57.6 cm straight carapace width.
AARON – Aaron is a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle. A boat captain found Aaron floating in the marina of Key Largo Angler's Club located in the upper keys on March 19, 2015. Aaron was emaciated, covered in epibiota, and suffered from an intestinal impaction and a heavy load of internal parasites. Aaron was treated at the Turtle Hospital with broad spectrum antibiotics, anti-parasitic medications, lactulose, vitamins, and a healthy diet of squid and fish. When Aaron was released with a transmitter on July 17, 2015, he measured 70.0 cm in curved carapace (shell) length and weighed of nearly 80 pounds.
OZZY – On November 23, 2013, Ozzy was found caught up in fishing line and a crab trap rope in open water off of Pasco County. The entanglement caused a severe laceration around the base of her right front flipper, which resulted in her immediate transportation to Clearwater Marine Aquarium for treatment. Shortly after arrival, a spiral fracture through Ozzy's humerus was identified in addition to the serious laceration. Through therapy and wound care, she regained her strength under the watchful eye of the turtle team. Ozzy measures 81.9 cm in curved carapace (shell) length and weighs over 160 pounds. After passing several veterinary tests to assess her deep water swimming strength and her ability to hunt for food, Ozzy was cleared for release from Clearwater Beach on September 9, 2015.
PINE TYME – Pine Tyme is a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle found floating, unable to dive near Big Pine Key, Florida Keys, Florida. She measures 69.5 cm in curved carapace (shell) length and weighs nearly 80 pounds. After rehabilitation at the Turtle Hospital, Pine Tyme was released with a satellite transmitter from Sombrero Beach in the Florida Keys.
TAMPA RED – Tampa Red is a sub-adult Kemp's Ridley sea turtle that was rehabilitated by the Florida Aquarium, in Tampa, Florida and released with a satellite transmitter on July 29, 2013. I was named by my sponsors, the Florida Aquarium and the Tampa Bay Green Consortium, because I was injured by red tide in the Gulf of Mexico. I was named Tampa Red by my sponsors, the Tampa Bay Green Consortium and the Florida Aquarium because I was injured by red tide in the Gulf of Mexico. Red tide is an algal bloom that produces toxins which can be harmful to sea turtles, fish, birds, and other marine animals.
LITTLE CRUSH – Little Crush is an endangered juvenile green sea turtle who was rescued by the University of Central Florida's Marine Turtle Research Team from the Indian River Lagoon near Melbourne Beach. Little Crush was very weak from swallowing more than 70 pieces of marine pollution including bits of balloons, plastic bags, monofilament line, and string! The turtle was cared for by a team of veterinarians and animal care specialists from Walt Disney World's Living Seas. I only weighed 5 pounds when rescued and am approximately 2-3 years old. A satellite transmitter specifically designed for small sea turtles was placed on his shell and he was released near Disney's Vero Beach Resort, located just south of the Archie Carr Refuge on Florida's central east coast.The Walt Disney World Animal Programs team has been involved in sea turtle rehabilitation for many years. To date, The Living Seas team has cared for and released more than 200 turtles! Most of the turtles that find their way to Walt Disney World are animals that have been rescued by various organizations and come to us with medical challenges. A majority of the turtles suffer from physiological problems attributed to extended periods of time in cold water. These cold stunned turtles are rescued, rehabilitated at The Living Seas, and then released under the supervision of the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission.Surprisingly, very little information is known about the movement patterns of juvenile sea turtles. Once hatchlings leave t he nesting beach, it is very difficult for scientists to document where these turtles spend their time. However, recent advances in technology have made it possible to learn more about the habitats of juvenile sea turtles. Telonics, Inc., a manufacturer of telemetry devices for monitoring wildlife, has produced a satellite transmitter that is now small enough to be carried by juvenile sea turtles. In collaboration with the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research at the University of Florida, The Living Seas and Disney's Animal Kingdom, we are testing the first satellite transmitters for use on juvenile sea turtles that measure approximately 30-40 cm.
PERDIDA – On August 13 1998, researcher Dr. Dave Nelson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Waterways Experiment Station, attached a satellite transmitter to the back of a subadult loggerhead sea turtle named Perdida, meaning lost in Spanish. Perdida was recovering from "cold stunning", which is similar to hypothermia, at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland. Staff and volunteers from the Aquarium's Marine Animal Rescue Program have cared for the turtle since it was brought to the Aquarium in October, 1997. Perdida was released from Assateague Island, Maryland on the morning of August 14. The juvenile loggerhead weighed around 50 kg and measured 74.8 cm long. Funding for Perdita's transmitter was provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Locations were provided by Dr. Dave Nelson (Environmental Laboratory, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Waterways Experiment Station).