WEST DENNIS, Mass. — Five rescued loggerhead sea turtles were released back into the ocean off Cape Cod after months of rehab at New England Aquarium’s sea turtle hospital.
5 loggerhead Turtles equipped with satellite tracking released back into the water today after being rescued by volunteers and the New England aquarium hospital @boston25 @NEAQ pic.twitter.com/FfhkuTF0IB
— PhotogVernon (@vernonalex02) July 2, 2018
"It's always my favorite day of the year any time we can do a release, " said Connie Merigo, the director of the marine animal rescue program.
Many volunteers and rescuers gathered at a beach in West Dennis to see the turtles' release on Monday morning.
The turtles are a threatened species. They stranded themselves on the north side of Cape Cod in December due to hypothermia.
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"When these turtles washed ashore back in the fall they were in very critical condition," said Merigo.
They suffered not only from life-threatening cold but also from prolonged lack of food, extreme dehydration, pneumonia and vital organ problems.
"There were a lot of winter nights patrolling the beach," said volunteer Bruce Beane of Chatham. "And you wonder, 'is this going to amount to anything?' And yes, it does."
The turtles released on Monday were among the most ill of the nearly 300 sea turtles that the New England Aquarium’s marine animal rescue team re-warmed and treated.
They are outfitted with satellite tracking so crews can monitor them.
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