Pair Of Rehabilitated Turtles To Be Released

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Loggerhead Turtle

Ponce Inlet, FL- The Marine Science Center's turtle hospital will release two rehabilitated sea turtles on Thursday.

The turtles are Peggy, a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle, stranded in Daytona Beach on Feb. 20 debilitated, anemic, dehydrated and malnourished, weighing only 61 pounds. After three months of antibiotics, antiparasitic medications, iron and other vitamin injections, fluids, IV nutrition and a well-balanced diet, Peggy weighs 77 pounds.

The other turtle is Rowdy, a juvenile green sea turtle, stranded in New Smyrna Beach on Feb. 22 weak and covered in algae, and with a critically low glucose and electrolyte imbalance, which are signs indicating he had been debilitated for quite some time. During a three-month stay at the Marine Science Center’s turtle hospital, the turtle received antibiotics, antifungal treatments, fluids for dehydration, vitamin injections, and a highly nutritious diet. He now weighs more than six-and-a-half pounds.

Staff plans to release the pair at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at the Beach Street ramp in Ponce Inlet. The releases, which are dependent on weather and surf conditions, will occur on the north side of the ramp in the no-driving zone. Paid beach parking is available on the south side of the ramp.

The Marine Science Center is open to the public at 100 Lighthouse Drive, Ponce Inlet. Visitors may view the turtle hospital and walk through a marine display area and seabird rehabilitation center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. For information, click here or call 386-304-5545.

(photo via Facebook)

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