Help Track Kreacher The Sea Turtle

Clearwater, FL — Tampa Bay area residents who want to help the Clearwater Marine Aquarium keep track of a plucky little loggerhead turtle recently released back in the wild have a chance to do so.

The aquarium has kicked off a fundraiser to cover the costs of tracking Kreacher’s journey through the Gulf of Mexico. The fundraiser also will help pay for the aquarium’s ongoing research efforts and its rehabilitation projects for endangered species.

“It costs up to $10,000 for a satellite tag, as well as up to $300 per day for rehabbing a sea turtle,” the aquarium explained on its fundraiser page. “When you donate to Kreacher’s Journey, you are helping us collect invaluable information on sea turtle behavior.”

The fundraising campaign had netted $1,716 in donations as of Friday afternoon. Its goal is $15,000.

Kreacher was found in waters near Clearwater’s Sandpearl Resort on May 8. She was “discovered floating and distressed with moderate edema,” the aquarium explained on its website.

Kreacher was brought back to the aquarium for testing. Those tests revealed she had shells in her gastrointestinal track and esophagus.

“She received TPN (total parenteral nutrition) treatments and a regular diet of squid and shrimp to help regulate her digestive system,” the aquarium said.

Recently given a clean bill of health, she was returned to the wild on June 21. She’s since traveled more than 87 miles into the Gulf of Mexico.

To learn more about her and the aquarium, visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium online.

Photo courtesy of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium