February 9, 2020 – We had the opportunity in early February to observe the release of a rehabilitated green sea turtle at Sombrero Beach in the Keys, along with the crews of Valentine and Shoreline Traveler (and a few hundred other onlookers!)
According to the press release by the Turtle Hospital –
Terri, a juvenile green sea turtle is returning to her ocean home! Join Turtle Hospital staff, Force Blue, scientists from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, InWater Research Group and a very special guest, Terri (the turtle’s namesake and the donor that made the in water scientific study that rescued “Terri” happen) for a Public Sea Turtle Release this Sunday, February 9th on Sombrero Beach in Marathon. Terri was rescued last June during the in water Florida Keys Sea Turtle Health Study off the lower Keys. Terri was treated at the Turtle Hospital for fibropapillomatosis and anemia. Treatment at the Turtle Hospital included a blood transfusion, tumor removal surgeries, broad spectrum antibiotics, fluids, vitamins and a healthy diet of greens and seafood. Terri is back in good health and looking fabulous!
Assisting the Turtle Hospital staff (Marathon, FL – https://www.turtlehospital.org/) was a very unique veterans organization, Force Blue ( https://forceblueteam.org/ ); this non-profit retrains and redeploys former Special Operations veterans and military-trained combat divers to assist in marine conservation efforts.
A documentary (here- https://vimeo.com/357079869 ) describes how the collaboration works, and actually features Terri, the same turtle that we saw released.