Events
Sea Turtle Release this Saturday on IOP
One of Charleston’s coolest and most unique events will return on Saturday, September 14th at 10 am. That’s when the South Carolina Aquarium will hold its latest sea turtle release at the Isle of Palms County Park! This time a total of three different types of turtles will be returned to the ocean.
As usual, the public is invited to attend the event. Although viewing the release is free, attendees should plan to pay for parking at the county park.
Here’s some details on each of the sea turtles being released:
- Skully
- 70-pound juvenile loggerhead
- Found stranded on a sandbar in Skull Inlet near Fripp Island in June.
- Had old wounds to his/her plastron which were inhabited by marine leeches; the turtle was also thin, lethargic, anemic, and dehydrated.
- Now back to optimal health and is ready for a return to the open ocean.
- Parker
- A 5-pound juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtle
- Accidentally caught by a fisherman at the Myrtle Beach Pier in June.
- Was emaciated, dehydrated, and had poor blood work. Due to the location of the hook, the Aquarium’s staff veterinarian removed it without surgery.
- Parker is now healthy and strong.
- Crosby
- A 9-pound juvenile green sea turtle
- Was found floating near Crosby’s Seafood on the Folly River in April.
- Covered in marine growth and swimming erratically.
- Needed fluids, antibiotics, and minor wound treatment.
- Crosby is now recovered and ready to return to the seas.
You can donate to the Sea Turtle Hospital via the South Carolina Aquarium’s donation page.