SeaWorld Orlando’s Animal Rescue Team releases loggerhead sea turtle

In a year of bad political and economic news, I love to report stories like this. Animal care experts from SeaWorld Orlando released an adult loggerhead sea turtle yesterday morning at Lori Wilson Park just south of Cocoa Beach, FL. The turtle was rescued on March 14, 2011 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station by park personal and transported to SeaWorld Orlando for treatment. The turtle is approximately 20 yrs. old, 150 lbs. and is 2 feet and 4 inches long.

For 45 years, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has helped animals, such as this sea turtle, in need. More than 20,000 animals have been rescued by their experts, and most of those animals are successfully treated and returned to the wild. SeaWorld’s animal rescue team is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Video of the moving release below the jump:

When this turtle arrived at SeaWorld it was emaciated, covered in barnacles and was unable to eat on its own. Suffering from pneumonia, the turtle received antibiotics and was tube fed to provide valuable nutrition and was soon eating on its own.

Once again SeaWorld demonstrates why it deserves our support, not just by visiting the parks, but by spreading its message of conservation and education.