VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Staff from the National Aquarium in Baltimore came down to Virginia Beach to release a Kemp's Ridley sea turtle named Seaward back into the ocean Monday.
Releasing Seaward back into the ocean was a bittersweet occasion for staff, but it was also a moment of importance because of the endangered status of the Kemp's Ridley sea turtles. They are one of the most critically endangered sea turtle species.
In the 80s, Kemp's Ridley sea turtles almost went extinct when there were only about 200 nesting individuals. Today, there are 7,000 to 9,000 of them, a big improvement but still a long way from a stable substantial population.
National Aquarium staff say that Seaward was hooked by a recreational fisherman in August and was rehabilitated at the aquarium.
"[He] had a surgical procedure to remove the hook and has been in rehab there ever since. Today, he's ready to go back," explained a staff member.
The staff member went on to explain why the Maryland-based aquarium decided to release Seaward in Virginia Beach.
"So we are getting to the time of year where turtles are going to be heading south, which is why we drove him down from Maryland instead of releasing him locally; you guys are a little closer to the Gulf Stream so he can swim out to warmer waters more easily from this location."
If you see any wildlife in need of help, experts ask you not to attempt to approach them, but instead, you can contact the 24-hour hotline organized by the Virginia Aquarium.