#turtle hatchling

Map turtle nugget I found on the Meramec River on a summer float trip in 2013. My leftover Orion cosplay nails make us a good match, don’t you think? 

~ Pile On ~ 

It seems like only yesterday that our loggerhead was just a 3.12 ounce hatchling. The young turtle was rescued through a program at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores to rescue, raise and release this endangered species back to the wild.

Sometimes sea turtle hatchlings don’t make it out of the nest or get disoriented on their way to sea. The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores takes in these tiny turtles and gives them a chance to get bigger and stronger, sometimes at other AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, before returning them to the sea.

As temporary visitors at facilities around the country, these rescued hatchlings help guests learn about sea turtles and the threats they face in the ocean. Threats like:

- climate change

- being caught as bycatch

- plastic pollution

But back to our turtle! By the time it was ready to go home, our loggerhead had grown to 13.8 inches and weighed 16 pounds! The pic above shows the turtle during its final checkup with Dr. Mike.

Sea turtles are strong swimmers but no so good at flying, so the loggerhead hopped on a plane, accompanied by two aquarists, shell moisturizer and a traveling heating pad. 

Shoutout to American Airlines for all their help with the trip!

(📷: North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores)

Back at North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, the turtle waited with other young rescued sea turtles for conditions to be right at sea. Then staffers headed out to the Atlantic Ocean to release the turtles back into their home.

(📷: John McCord, UNC Coastal Studies Institute)

Our turtle, and several other rescues, splashed into the sea! Mission Accomplished!

(📷: John McCord, UNC Coastal Studies Institute)

51. Hawksbill sea turtles