Florida Aquarium Returns Rehabilitated Green Sea Turtle To Gulf Off Anna Maria Island

ANNA MARIA, FL — A rehabilitated juvenile green sea turtle returned to the Gulf on Friday at Anna Maria Bayfront Park, after months of care at The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center.

The turtle, named Purple, had been rescued after a cold-stunning event and transferred to the aquarium on Feb. 11, a news release from the aquarium said.

Purple was found on North Longboat Key, lethargic, underweight and with barnacles on its shell.

At intake, the turtle weighed 2 pounds and required antibiotics, fluids and ongoing veterinary care, the aquarium said.

After more than four months of rehabilitation, Purple was cleared for release at 3.9 pounds.

Before going back into the wild, Purple received a PIT tag and microchip for future identification. Manatee County sea turtle volunteers assisted The Florida Aquarium team during Friday’s release off Anna Maria Island.

“Every sea turtle release reflects months of intensive care and collaboration,” Alyssa Fessett, manager of The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center, said. “Purple’s recovery is a direct result of that work, and it’s always meaningful to see a patient return to its home healthy and strong.”

The release comes during a busy rehabilitation season, the aquarium said. Since the start of the season, the center has cared for 22 juvenile green sea turtles. Most arrived after cold-stunning events that left them weakened from prolonged exposure to cold water.

Following Purple’s release, 13 sea turtles remain in rehabilitation and will continue receiving treatment and care before they are ready to return to the ocean.

The Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center spans 19,000 square feet and includes 12 recovery pools, a veterinary hospital, and a deep-dive pool used for behavioral assessment and pre-release conditioning.

The aquarium said its broader sea turtle conservation program also focuses on research tied to sea turtle well-being and ecosystem dynamics. That work includes using satellite tags on a subset of patients after release and participating in research projects with partners in Florida, the Bahamas and Costa Rica.

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