In this photo provided by the Brevard Zoo, Bubba, a 375-plus-pound loggerhead sea turtle, is released back into the Atlantic Ocean at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach, Fla., Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Credit: Brevard Zoo via AP
A 375-pound (170-kilogram) sea turtle has been released back into the Atlantic Ocean after three months of rehabilitation in Florida.
Officials with the Brevard Zoo released a male loggerhead named Bubba Wednesday afternoon in Cocoa Beach.
Biologists with Inwater Research found Bubba in St. Lucie County on April 10, officials said. After noticing injuries to both front flippers, they used a crane to pull him out of the water and into a carrier in their pickup truck to bring him to the zoo.
A preliminary exam found that Bubba had likely been injured in a predator attack. The sea turtle was also dealing with an intensive infestation of marine leeches, which were causing anemia.
Biologists estimate Bubba is 60 to 75 years old.
In this photo provided by the Brevard Zoo, Bubba, a 375-plus-pound loggerhead sea turtle, is released back into the Atlantic Ocean at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach, Fla., Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Credit: Brevard Zoo via AP
In this undated photo provided by the Brevard Zoo, Bubba, a 375-plus-pound loggerhead sea turtle, receives medical treatment at the Sea Turtle Healing Center at the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Fla. Credit: Brevard Zoo via AP
In this undated photo provided by the Brevard Zoo, Bubba, a 375-plus-pound loggerhead sea turtle, receives medical treatment at the Sea Turtle Healing Center at the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Fla. Credit: Brevard Zoo via AP
© 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Citation:
375-pound loggerhead sea turtle returns to Atlantic Ocean after 3 months of rehab in Florida (2024, July 13)
retrieved 13 July 2024
from https://phys.org/news/2024-07-pound-loggerhead-sea-turtle-atlantic.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Phys.org – https://phys.org/news/2024-07-pound-loggerhead-sea-turtle-atlantic.html
