Gulf Specimen releases rehabbed sea turtle
Danielle Taylor carries Beauty the green sea turtle to the water.
By CHARITY TUMBLESON Reporter
Beauty, a green sea turtle, was released on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Alligator Point. Beauty had been caught by a fisherman at Alligator Harbor and had surgery to remove a hook caught in her throat. The surgery was done at Gulf World Marine Institute in Panama City and she was able to heal at Gulf Specimen Aquarium in Panacea.
The green sea turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle. They are herbivores eating mostly seagrasses and algae, which gives their fat a greenish color which is where their name derives from. Classified as endangered, green turtles are threatened by overharvesting of their eggs, hunting of adults, being caught in fishing gear, and a loss of nesting beach sites.
Gulf Specimen founder Jack Rudloe nudges her towards the water.
Jack Rudloe founder of the Gulf Specimen Aquarium wished the turtle well on her journey back into the sea as Danielle Taylor released Beauty back into the ocean.
Beauty swims away.
Beauty was a little reluctant at first but after a little nudge, she decided to get into the water.