A crowd gathered earlier this week on Folly Beach to witness the release of two endangered loggerhead sea turtles, Brie and Gruyere, back into their natural habitat. Both went through extensive rehabilitation within the Sea Turtle Care Center at the SC Aquarium. See more pictures of the release.
Their journeys to the Lowcountry:
Last summer, Brie was found stranded on South Litchfield Beach, ~two hours from Charleston near Pawleys Island. Weighing only 69 pounds and suffering from debilitated turtle syndrome, Brie needed intensive care like fluids, vitamins, antibiotics, and a gradual increase in food. Nearly a year later, Brie weighed 120 pounds and was approved to be returned to the ocean.
Gruyere was found last December, floating in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with a severely low body temperature. The New England Aquarium rescued Gruyere, then the turtle transported by Turtles Fly Too to the Holy City for treatment for cold stunning and pneumonia in the Care Center. Gruyere was able to be released only after a few months.
Get involved:
Did you know? Community members are encouraged to visit the current patients in person at the Aquarium. Every admission ticket and Aquarium membership directly benefits the Care Center’s operations + additional education programming and conservation work.
