Rehabbed Lost Sea Turtle, Buckley, Returned To Gulf: FL Aquarium

TARPON SPRINGS, FL — A rehabilitated lost green sea turtle was returned to Gulf waters Wednesday from Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs, the Florida Aquarium said in a news release.

The endangered turtle, Buckley, was found stranded more than a mile from the ocean on a dirt road in Dixie County in November.

He spent the last three months at the Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Apollo Beach. There, staff worked to help the turtle regain weight, stabilize dangerously low blood sugar levels and heal scratches to its bottom shell caused by navigating rough terrain.

“This is why we do what we do — to see a once-struggling sea turtle like Buckley return home, stronger and healthier. It’s heartwarming,” Ashley Riese, sea turtle conservation director, said. “Buckley’s recovery is a testament to the incredible collaboration between rescuers, the Aquarium’s animal care team, veterinarians, and our entire community.”

Named after Buck Creek, near where he was found, Buckley’s story inspired community support from the very beginning. After hearing Buckley’s name, local businessman Ed Buckley, an advocate for marine conservation, wanted to help.

He donated $7,500 to underwrite the turtle’s medical expenses and encouraged others to contribute to support Buckley’s care, which has topped $10,000, the aquarium said.

"When I heard they rescued a turtle with my same name, I knew I had to get involved," Ed Buckley said. “There’s a strong connection between Buckley and me — maybe it’s the name, maybe it’s kindred spirits — but one thing I do know is that protecting sea turtles is important. Their survival depends on all of us stepping up and hope the community will be compelled to help as well.”

A grant from Verizon and collaboration with the Sea Turtle Conservancy allowed the aquarium to attach a satellite tag to Buckley’s shell, allowing the community and biologists to track him now that he’s been returned to the wild.

Each time Buckley surfaces to breathe, the tag will send a signal to a satellite, enabling real-time tracking of feeding habits, migratory patterns and environmental conditions like water temperatures.

The feed to track Buckley’s journey, which will be live within 24 hours to a week following his release, can be found here.