ENVIRONMENT

'It’s days like today that we remember forever': SeaWorld releases 10 rescued sea turtles in NSB

Brenno Carillo
The Daytona Beach News-Journal
SeaWorld Rescue Team releases 10 Kemp's ridley sea turtles into the ocean at Canaveral National Seashore on Friday, March 4, 2022, in New Smyrna Beach. The sea turtles were rescued in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and rehabilitated by the SeaWorld Orlando Rescue Team for three months. Kemp's ridley are the most endangered sea turtle species, said SeaWorld animal care specialist Nicholas Ricci.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH — Ten Kemp’s ridley sea turtles lost their way in the winter of 2021 and almost died after they were stranded in the cold waters of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Three months later, after a rehabilitation period in the care of SeaWorld Orlando’s animal specialists, the 10 turtles got a second chance in life as they were released back in the ocean at the Canaveral National Seashore in New Smyrna Beach on Friday.

“These (Kemp’s ridley) are the most endangered species of sea turtles in the world,” said SeaWorld animal care specialist Nicholas Ricci. “They only nest in the Gulf of Mexico, so that can put them at risk — if there is a really bad storm season in the Gulf, that can wipe out an entire nesting generation.”

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Ricci has been with SeaWorld for just over 20 years; 18 of which have focused on rehabilitating rescued animals. The sea turtles released on Friday were rescued in the last week of November 2021 in Cape Cod by the New England Aquarium and National Marine Life Center.

After receiving initial care at the two Northeastern facilities, the sea turtles were flown to SeaWorld Orlando on Dec. 2, 2021, for treatment and rehabilitation that included nebulization with medicine to prevent and treat cold-stunned effects such as pneumonia, hydration via subcutaneous fluids, and hearty diets necessary to help them gain the nutrients and strength required to heal.

“It’s never a dull day,” Ricci said. “Every day we get to experience something new.”

Nicholas Ricci has been with SeaWorld for just over 20 years, with 18 of those years focused on rehabilitating rescued animals. He and four other members of the SeaWorld Orlando rescue team transported the sea turtles in a small truck. “Once the (sea turtles) get off into the surf, they are pretty much going to be swimming in the ocean and can go any place they want to go,” Ricci said.

Ricci and four other members of the SeaWorld Orlando rescue team transported the sea turtles in a small truck. SeaWorld members carried the sea turtles to the beach, each in its own blue bin, and placed them on the sand as the team prepared to release them back into the ocean.

Each carrying one sea turtle, SeaWorld Orlando members walked as far into the ocean as possible and released the animals back into the water. They observed the sea turtles for a few minutes to make sure they swam until they were beyond the surf.

“Once the (sea turtles) get off into the surf, they are pretty much going to be swimming in the ocean and can go anyplace they want to go,” Ricci said. “For the females, when it’s time to lay eggs, they will head back to, generally speaking, the same beach that they were hatched from.”

Each carrying one sea turtle, SeaWorld Orlando members walked as far into the ocean as possible and released the animals back into the ocean. They observed the sea turtles for a few minutes to make sure they swam until past the surf. “For the females, when it’s time to lay eggs, they will head back to, generally speaking, the same beach that they were hatched from," Ricci said.

Kemp’s ridley: The most endangered sea turtle species

One of the reasons why the Kemp’s ridley (also the smallest among sea turtle species) is the most endangered of the sea turtle species is due to the “limited space they nest in,” Ricci said.

“There is a possibility at their small size that can make their young ones susceptible to cold-stunning,” Ricci said, even though that is a struggle among other species as well.

“Cold-stunning is a condition in which sea turtles become very weak and inactive from exposure to cold temperatures,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Cold-stunned turtles become lethargic and are eventually unable to swim causing them to float at the surface. Wind and/or tides may wash them ashore. If temperatures remain low or turtles are not rescued, they can develop secondary health problems or die.”

The seven sea turtle species are Leatherback, Green, Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Olive ridley, Kemp's ridley and Flatback.

The 10 sea turtles released on Friday are juveniles, with measurements ranging from 22 to 30 centimeters. A mature, adult Kemp’s ridley, Ricci said, is considered adult when it exceeds 60 centimeters.

The seven sea turtle species are Leatherback, Green, Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Olive ridley, Kemp's ridley and Flatback. Since 1980, SeaWorld animal care specialists have rescued and rehabilitated more than 2,500 sick, stranded and injured sea turtles.

Since 1980, SeaWorld animal care specialists have rescued and rehabilitated more than 2,500 sick, stranded and injured sea turtles. According to SeaWorld, their rescue teams in Orlando, San Antonio and San Diego are all experiencing increased volumes of calls for help with the latest cold temperatures in the country, which adds to the number of animals in need.

“Sea turtles are vital to a healthy ocean ecosystem and are an important part of our commitment to protect marine animals and their habitats,” said Chris Dold, president of the SeaWorld Conservation Fund and chief zoological officer of SeaWorld in a press release.

Dold added: “We are committed to seeing every species of sea turtle return to a state of abundance. That is what drives our dedicated rescue and rehabilitation teams and what inspires our Conservation Fund grants to help others who share our passion and mission to save the sea turtle."

Helping in the effort to prevent extinction

The SeaWorld Conservation Fund is funded by donations from guests who visit the SeaWorld theme parks. The fund has provided more than “$100,000 in grants and scientific support to 10 different turtle conservation projects across Africa and the Americas,” SeaWorld said in the press release.

The projects include conservation of specific turtle species, rescue and rehabilitation programs, education, and marine debris and nesting beach studies. SeaWorld rescues an average of 140 sea turtles per year due to habitat destruction, cold stunning, illness and disease, and human impact such as boat strikes, entanglement and littering.

“The best thing anyone can do (to help prevent sea turtle extinction) is clean up after themselves,” Ricci said. “Any time you go to the beach, any time you go outside your house, no matter where you live, if you can pick up a little bit of trash and make sure it ends up in the appropriate spot, it not only helps turtles, but it’ll help every animal around where they live.”

The process of rescuing, rehabilitating and returning sea turtles to their natural habitat is “critical” to help prevent the species’ extinction, Ricci said.

The process of rescuing, rehabilitating and returning sea turtles to their natural habitat is “critical” to help prevent the species’ extinction. “The best thing anyone can do is clean up after themselves,” Ricci said. “Any time you go to the beach, any time you go outside your house, no matter where you live, if you can pick up a little bit of trash and make sure it ends up in the appropriate spot, it not only helps turtles, but it’ll help every animal around where they live.”

“Every single species of sea turtle is either threatened or endangered,” Ricci said.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “endangered species are those plants and animals that have become so rare they are in danger of becoming extinct,” while “threatened species are plants and animals that are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.”

To date, SeaWorld has helped six of the seven species of sea turtles, including Green and Loggerhead, which are both on the endangered species list.

As the sea turtles swam past the surf and into their second chance in life, Ricci and his team at SeaWorld Orlando still have more rescued sea turtles at the park undergoing rehabilitation.

As the sea turtles swam past the surf and into their second chance in life, Ricci and his team at SeaWorld Orlando still have more rescued sea turtles at the park undergoing rehabilitation. To date, SeaWorld has helped six of the seven species of sea turtle, including Green and Loggerhead, which are both on the endangered species list. “Every animal that we give a second chance, that we get to see go back out there, is really special to us,” Ricci said. “It’s days like today that we remember forever.”

“Every animal that we give a second chance, that we get to see go back out there, is really special to us,” Ricci said. “It’s days like today that we remember forever.”