SEA TURTLE RELEASE ON FRIDAY
Join us for a special public sea turtle release! The Stranding Response Program will release five rehabilitated sea turtles on Friday, August 31 at 9 a.m. along the shore behind Neptune's Park at 31st Street. These rehabilitated turtles include two of the most common species to Virginia's coastal waters: Kemp's ridley and loggerhead sea turtles. Get to know the turtles below!
CAPTAIN

This Kemp's ridley sea turtle was originally found floating near the third island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel on August 3, 2017. Captain had a cranial fracture and a fracture in its front right flipper. After over one year of rehabilitation and care, Captain is ready to set sail!
HONEYSUCKLE

On June 17, 2018, Honeysuckle was admitted to the Virginia Aquarium Marine Animal Care Center after being hooked at Grandview Beach in Hampton. This Kemp's ridley sea turtle was hooked in the esophagus, and the hook was removed under sedation.
POPPY

This Kemp's ridley sea turtle was hooked by a recreational angler at Buckroe Fishing Pier in Hampton on May 20, 2018. While the original hook fell out before our team arrived, we brought Poppy in for a quick check- and it's a good thing we did! A hook fragment was discovered in Poppy's throat, which required surgical removal.

DRAKE

Reported by a member of the public, Drake was admitted on December 31, 2017 as a cold stunned patient from Lynnhaven Beach in Virginia Beach. Drake is a loggerhead sea turtle, and came in to our Stranding Response Center lethargic and thin, with such a weak heartbeat that it was not initially detected on a monitoring device. Drake was given antibiotics and is now ready for warmer waters!
WISTERIA

This Kemp's ridley sea turtle was hooked at Little Island Fishing Pier in Virginia Beach on May 24, 2018. Wisteria was hooked in the tongue by a recreational fisher, and the hook was removed before our team arrived on scene. After admit, we determined that some lesions on Wisteria's carapace and plastron (upper and lower shell) were consistent with shark bite.
HELP US CONTINUE OUR MISSION

The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program is primarily funded by grants and donations, and is in critical need of financial support. To help, please visit our donation page .