Purple, a four-pound green sea turtle, is back in the ocean after being rescued by the Florida Aquarium in February suffering from cold-stunning.
The turtle was released at Anna Maria Island after months of rehabilitation and care from the Florida Aquarium Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Apollo Beach.
“Purple was our smallest turtle coming in at about two pounds,” said Alyssa Fessett, manager of the Florida Aquarium Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center. “When Purple originally arrived at our rehab facility, we quickly realized that this turtle was underweight and needing our help.”
Cold-stunning occurs when sea turtles are exposed to cold temperatures that cause their bodies to slow down and become vulnerable to secondary infections and other health issues.
Fessett said Purple received antibiotics, fluid therapy and a specialized diet plan to help her gain weight and become healthy enough to return to the wild.
“Days like today are the best. This is why we do what we do; that full-circle story of bringing turtles who were sick and injured and letting them go back home,” Fessett said. “That’s our sole purpose with my team. We want to make sure that our turtle populations are thriving and that we get to play a role in that.”
Fessett said the rehabilitation center has high release rates and emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to rescue and rehabilitate sea turtles.
Each turtle released back into the ocean is microchipped, allowing researchers and rehabilitation teams to track its history if it is encountered again.
“Purple is a special turtle and that’s why so many people were here to support her because Purple was the smallest turtle of our season,” Fessett said. “We usually see turtles that are considered dinner-plate sized. This one is much more of a dessert-plate sized turtle.”
Fessett said Purple’s recovery has been an inspiration because of the condition she was in when she arrived.
“When our turtles come in, like Purple in particular, they’re so small and so sick and very lethargic, so we never tell anyone to count on them making it,” she said. “We go into it with that mentality of, we’re going to try everything.”
Purple is one of many sea turtles treated for cold-stunning at the Florida Aquarium. The Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center opened in 2019 and has cared for more than 250 sea turtles, according to the aquarium.