Rescue

When a sea turtle is found sick or injured, SCDNR is the first to respond. With a network of dedicated, permitted volunteers across the coast, each stranded sea turtle is taken into caring hands to be transported to the Aquarium at a moment’s notice. These sea turtles may suffer from debilitated turtle syndrome, predation and boat strike wounds, entanglement in marine debris, accidental interactions with fishermen and even exposure to dangerously low temperatures.

If you find a sick, injured or dead sea turtle, call the SCDNR stranding hotline: 1 (800) 922-5431

Rehabilitate

We triage each sea turtle patient using diagnostic imaging, bloodwork and physical exams. With a suite of medical care available — including surgical procedures and laser therapy — we treat them on an individualized basis. Each patient receives a high-quality diet, enrichment and regular examinations, ensuring they are healthy inside and out before returning to the ocean. Learn our patient’s stories before seeing some face-to-face at the Aquarium, included with admission!

Release

Our goal is for each rehabilitated sea turtle to be released so that they will become reproductive members of the sea turtle population. While every release is a little bit different, we strive to share these moments with each of you while keeping animal care and safety at the forefront of our plans. Be among the first to hear about upcoming releases by subscribing to our Sea Turtle Care Center emails!

Get Involved

It takes a collection of passionate conservationists to help a rescued sea turtle through the journey to release — and that includes you! Become a Sea Turtle Guardian to connect with the Care Center on a deeper level. Sea Turtle Guardians gain access to exclusive content directly from our sea turtle biologists and special invitations.