Pawley the turtle recently returned to the ocean! The Loggerhead was found stranded, along with three other turtles, on Pawleys Island in South Carolina on June 8th, 2015. He was soon admitted to the Sea Turtle Hospital in Charleston, where he was treated for old boat strike wounds for three months before being released at the Isle of Palms County Park, along with his two companions, Barnacle Bob and Midway, as well as one more turtle from Morris Island, named Little Laddy.
A CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION: PAWLEY AND FRIENDS ARE RELEASED
A crowd of 500 to 700 people cheered the turtles on as they were lifted from their containers and carried to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The hospital regularly rescues injured turtles along the 187 miles of the South Carolina coastline.
Linda Mataya, a member of the Sea Turtle Stranding Salvage Network, states that it is an incredible feeling whenever the hospital is able to successfully restore a turtle to full health and release it into the waters, especially since a large amount of turtles do not make it through their treatment. Kelly Thorvalson, the Sea Turtle Rescue Program manager, adds that releases are usually scheduled during after school hours in order for families to be able to see the turtles rush back into their waters. After the release, the animals will swim the Atlantic Ocean and eventually head into warmer waters along the Gulf Stream to return to their natural habitats.
The Rescue Program
Currently, there are about 20 to 30 rescued sea turtles that have been taken to the Sea Turtle Hospital, where rehabilitative care is provided through the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program, in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and their Marine Turtle Program. The program has hundreds of volunteers from associations such as the South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts. These volunteers monitor turtle nesting and hatching between the months of May and October and they also watch for and report any signs of injured turtles.
PAWLEY IS BACK WHERE HE BELONGS. LETS WORK TO PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT TO PROTECT OTHER TURTLES LIKE PAWLEY:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD63kwQuZ2I
Pawley the Loggerhead Turtle Returns to Ocean
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