Loggerhead Sea Turtle Release
Aquarium Sends Turtle to Rehabilitation Center for Wild Release
The Georgia Aquarium has sent a 2-year-old loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) back to the island where he was originally found as a hatchling.
Dylan, the Rescued Sea Turtle
Dylan, as this sea turtle is known, was found as a hatchling on Jekyll Island in Georgia. Taken in by a local nature center, he was moved to the Georgia Aquarium after he got too big for the center's facilities. Jekyll Island is now the home of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, which rescues, rehabilitates and releases sea turtles. And Dylan has once again outgrown his exhibit, so it makes sense to attempt to return him to his natural environment.
Loggerheads Threatened in the Wild
Loggerhead sea turtles have been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 1978. In 2007 following several years of consistent 4% gains in numbers, US populations are declining. A drop of 7% in the Gulf of Mexico was the most severe, with other areas declining 2-4%. Fishing gear entanglement is considered the greatest threat to recovery. The use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) has meant fewer animals trapped in shrimp nets but sea turtles are vulnerable to entanglement in all types of fishing gear, including monofilament line discarded or lost by recreational fishermen. Loggerheads also die from consuming plastic bags which look very simlar to jellyfish, a preferred sea turtle food.
In addition, coastal development has reduced nesting areas and created hazards to sea turtles near shore. Commercial sale of sea turtle parts and boat strikes add to the many dangers faced by this ancient species.
There are concerns about how Dylan will fare after having spent so long in captivity. He will need to be examined to ensure he is not carrying any diseases or parasites that could pose a danger to the wild loggerhead sea turtles. Once he is released he will be monitored using a satellite transmitter. This will allow the Sea Turtle Center to evaluate the effectiveness of their rehabilitation program as well as giving scientists a chance to track his movements, gaining more insight into loggerhead sea turtle behavior and habitat use.
Win-Win for Both Dylan and Georgia Aquarium
The aquarium will continue to profit from Dylan during his rehabilitation, as well as after his release. Updates on his progress will draw visitors. Once he is released, Dylan’s movements will be broadcast at the aquarium and on their website. The aquarium will lose a star attraction but, like many other captive facilities, they are recognizing their responsibility to both the individual animal and to threatened or endangered populations. The positive publicity around being actively involved in returning a threatened species to the wild won’t hurt them either, making this a win-win situation for Dylan and the aquarium.
