Mote releases two rehabilitated sea turtles back into the wild

Photo: Mufasa swimming away after Mote Marine Laboratory staff and Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Preserve staff release her back to the wild after over a year of rehabilitation at Mote's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital. Credit: Mote Marine Laboratory.

Mote Marine Laboratory and Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve released an adult Kemp’s ridley sea turtle named Mufasa and a juvenile green sea turtle named Mila back into the wild in the Ten Thousand Islands within Rookery Bay Reserve on Friday, Nov. 6.
 
“We are pleased to assist in this effort,” said reserve director Keith Laakkonen. “Protected submerged habitats such as those within Rookery Bay Reserve are crucial for the successful rehabilitation, and overall success, of many species including the Endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle.”
 
Mufasa was found floating at the surface of Sarasota Bay, unable to dive on Aug. 7, 2014 and was brought to Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital. Sea turtles must dive to feed in the wild.
 
Upon initial observation, Mufasa had a fresh boat strike wound near the rear of her carapace (upper part of her shell).
 
The turtle also had older wounds that appeared to be healing, including constriction marks on both front flippers from fishing line or netting entanglement, her left front flipper was damaged with severe constriction marks and a boat strike wound on the front of her face.
 
Following Mufasa’s arrival, Mote’s sea turtle care and veterinary staff gave her fluids and antibiotics and performed routine medical examinations.
 
Once Mufasa was healthy enough to withstand surgery, the veterinary decision was made to amputate the damaged left front flipper because there was an opening that was a possible source of infection. The damaged rear section of the carapace was surgically removed as well. The turtle was given antibiotics and time to heal after surgery and on Oct. 23, 2015 the decision was made that she was releasable.
 
“It is always our goal to release our rehabilitated animals back to the wild when the time is right for the animal,” said Lynne Byrd, Mote’s Rehabilitation and Medical Care Coordinator. “Mufasa was with us for over a year and it was especially fulfilling to release her back to her home, because Kemp’s ridley turtles are the most endangered of all of the seven sea turtle species, and we consider her return to the wild a success for her species.”
 
Mila was found stranded with very heavy epibiota (barnacles, mollusks and algae) coverage on its shell on Jan. 28, 2015 in Manatee County and was brought to Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital.
 
Mote’s veterinary staff performed routine medical examination and two surgeries to remove fibropapilloma tumors from the turtle’s flippers. Surgery was also performed to alleviate an abscess that had developed on the neck. 
 
On Nov. 6, 2015, Mote staff and Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve staff returned Mufasa and Mila back to sea near the Ten Thousand Islands.
 
“It was incredible to not only release one turtle today, but two,” said Byrd. “It was the perfect day for a release.  The release went flawlessly and the animals swam off as they should back into the wild to continue their journey.”
 
Please report distressed or dead sea turtles.
Mote's Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program monitors sea turtle nesting from Longboat Key through Venice, and Mote's Stranding Investigations Program responds to reports of sick, injured or dead marine mammals and sea turtles in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

  • To report issues with sea turtle nests, nesting turtles or hatchlings (babies) from Longboat Key through Venice (such as disoriented hatchlings or storm-damaged nests), please call Mote's Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program at 941-388-4331.
  • Within Sarasota or Manatee county waters, if you see a stranded or dead sea turtle, dolphin or whale, please call Mote's Stranding Investigations Program, a 24-hour response service, at 888-345-2335.
  • If you see a stranded or dead manatee anywhere in state waters or a stranded or dead sea turtle, dolphin or whale outside of Sarasota and Manatee counties, please call the FWC Wildlife Alert hotline at 1 (888) 404-FWCC (3922).