100th Sea Turtle Release a Milestone for South Carolina Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rescue Program | South Carolina Aquarium

100th Sea Turtle Release a Milestone for South Carolina Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rescue Program

Dec 25

100th Sea Turtle Release a Milestone for South Carolina Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rescue Program

CHARLESTON, S.C. — December 25, 2012 —On December 27, 2012, Gumby a Juvenile Loggerhead Sea Turtle will be the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program’s 100th sea turtle to be released.

More about Gumby:

Gumby, a 40-pound juvenile loggerhead was admitted to the Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital on June 26, 2011 after being found washed up on the beach at Kiawah Island, S.C. Gumby was brought into the hospital by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources weighing only 6 pounds; s/he was found to have thin bone density, was extremely lethargic, overweight and had some shell deformities. Initial treatment for Gumby included vitamin, calcium, and antibiotic injections as well as daily sunlight exposure to aid in bone regeneration. Gumby’s health is now at optimum level and has been cleared for release. Gumby will return to the ocean on December 27th, 2012. S/he is being taken to the Gulf Stream off of the coast of North Carolina, where turtles his age currently reside.

Milestone for the Sea Turtle Rescue Program:

The release of Gumby marks the 100th sea turtle to be successfully rehabilitated and released by the South Carolina Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rescue Program. Since its inception in 2000, program staff has worked tirelessly to care for three different species of threatened and endangered sea turtles. Considering every species of sea turtle is at risk of extinction primarily from human-caused threats, treating these animals is an important step in their conservation. The South Carolina Aquarium will continue to work to help ensure that sea turtles not only survive, but have a future in our oceans by providing the best care possible to injured and sick sea turtles.

How to Help:

You can help care for sea turtles in recovery at the Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital by going to www.scaquarium.org and making a donation. While online you can also visit the Sea Turtle Hospital’s blog at http://seaturtlehospital.blogspot.com/ to track the progress of patients currently being cared for at the hospital. You can also find out more about visiting the hospital as part of a behind-the-scenes tour.

For all media inquiries, please contact Kate Dittloff at (843) 579-8660 or [email protected]

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