6 endangered turtles released at Canaveral National Seashore

Turtles spend several months in rehabilitation

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – The Florida Aquarium Conservation Team released six sea turtles back into the ocean Wednesday at the Canaveral National Seashore. All the turtles were from the East Coast.

"It feels really good. You know, we're making a difference in an endangered species lives," said Susan Coy, Florida Aquarium's veterinarian technician.

Coy said the Kemp's ridley and green sea turtles suffered from exhaustion, large barnacles and being malnourished.

"It's important for us to help them, to get them healthy and get them back out there to help reproduce and make the generations go on and on," Coy said.

The turtles spent several months in rehabilitation but are all now fully recovered.

"It's a little bittersweet when it comes to release time because you spent so much time with them and making them healthy, but you also know it's good for them to get back into the wild in the population, because that's where they're supposed to be," Coy said.


About the Author:

Loren Korn is a native Texan who joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2014. She was born and raised in Houston and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Journalism.

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