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Clearwater Aquarium Returns 3 Sea Turtles To The Wild

News Channel 8 photo by CHIP OSOWSKI

Danielle O'Neil prepares to release Frosty the green sea turtle into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Frosty was in the care of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium since January after being found ailing near the Dunedin Causeway.

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By STEVEN GIRARDI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 28, 2008

DUNEDIN - Restored to health and ready to go, three sea turtles swam to freedom today during a send-off at Honeymoon Island State Park.

The young turtles, each weighing less than 20 pounds, were released on the Intracoastal Waterway side of the island, which is calmer than the Gulf of Mexico side, about 10 a.m., said Jeni Hatter, a spokeswoman for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

"It's a nice, quiet area," she said. "So they have a better shot that way."

The aquarium, on Clearwater Beach, has cared for the 5- to 6-year-old turtles since they were rescued this year, Hatter said.

Devin, a green turtle, was found 12 miles off Hernando Beach in January, and Frosty, also a green turtle, was found near the Dunedin Causeway the same month. Both literally were under the weather with a condition called cold stun.

Bruno, a Kemp's ridley, was found in a crab trap on St. Petersburg Beach in May and had various abrasions. Kemp's ridley turtles are the most endangered of all sea turtles, according to the aquarium.

The sea turtles reach maturity at 13 to 15 years of age and can grow to 400 pounds, Hatter said.

In 2007, the nonprofit aquarium rescued 79 sea turtles. Eighteen of those have been rehabilitated and returned to the wild.

It also oversees and protects sea turtle nests along Pinellas County's beaches during the nesting season, from May to October.

Reporter Steven Girardi may be reached at (727) 451-2333 or sgirardi@tampatrib.com.

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