Mystic, CT — Mystic Aquarium staff completed a 1,000-mile journey this week to release 22 sea turtles off the coast of Jekyll Island, Georgia.
The animals, treated for injuries and illnesses caused primarily by cold-stunning, were cleared for return to the ocean following months of intensive rehabilitation.
The group included 14 green sea turtles, six loggerhead turtles, and two Kemp’s ridley turtles—three species commonly impacted by cold water exposure during New England winters.
Cold-stunning causes turtles to become lethargic, impairing their ability to swim or feed and often leading to stranding events along the Northeast coastline.
The turtles were transported using specially outfitted containers and handled by the aquarium’s trained Animal Rescue Program team.
Mystic Transportation, a longtime partner of the aquarium, supported the logistics of the release effort.
The transfer to warmer waters in Georgia is part of a seasonal collaboration between northern marine rehab centers and southern coastal release sites, where sea temperatures are optimal for reintroduction.
Rehabilitation efforts for sea turtles often span several months and include wound care, nutritional recovery, and reconditioning for ocean survival.
The public can continue to track future rescue and rehabilitation updates through the aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program Facebook Group.
