A young green sea turtle in Florida is back in the ocean after surviving a severe boat strike that badly damaged her shell.
Her release is not just an uplifting rehabilitation story. It also highlights how routine decisions by boaters can help prevent similar injuries to other marine animals.
Here's what to know
After suffering major shell damage in a boat strike, Aelin was taken to Loggerhead Marinelife Center, where a long course of care made her release possible.
In a TikTok post from Loggerhead Marinelife Center, the Florida conservation organization said its veterinary team managed Aelin's recovery with dry docking, vacuum-assisted wound treatment, surgery to remove injured bone and tissue, regular wound care, and continued oversight.
@loggerheadmarinelife From a severe boat strike injury to a miraculous recovery leading to a second chance at life in the ocean. 🌊🐢 Aelin, a juvenile green sea turtle, arrived at Loggerhead Marinelife Center with severe injuries to her shell caused by a boat strike. Her road to recovery included dry docking, specialized wound vacuum therapy, surgery to remove damaged bone and tissue, routine wound care, and continued monitoring from our veterinary team. Step by step, Aelin healed. Her wounds improved, her strength returned, and this week, she reached the milestone we work toward for every patient: returning home to the ocean. 💙 While the area of Aelin's shell where bone was lost may look different, the healing process will continue even after her return to the ocean. The tissue covering the area is already very firm and will continue to solidify over time as scar tissue fills the space. While it will not become as hard as bone, sea turtles with similar shell defects have been observed thriving for years. Aelin's recovery is something to celebrate, but her story is also an important reminder that injuries like hers can be prevented. When boating in our local waters, remember to Go Slow for Those Below. Reduce your speed, wear polarized sunglasses, designate a wildlife spotter, and always keep watch for sea turtles surfacing to breathe. The Sea Turtle Protection Zone (STPZ) asks boaters to travel at slow speeds from shore to one mile offshore throughout Palm Beach County during sea turtle nesting season. Slowing down gives both boaters and sea turtles more time to react and can help prevent devastating vessel strikes. Healing looks good on you, Aelin. Now, the ocean looks even better. 🌊 📸: Ed Mullen GoPro footage: Marisa Marulli Drone footage: Aaron Maiuri
♬ original sound - Loggerhead Marinelife Center
It took five months of intensive care, but she recovered enough strength to be released back into the ocean.
The center said Aelin could return to the water even though the area of her shell where bone is missing may look different. That section is already covered by firm tissue and is expected to keep hardening as scar tissue fills the space, although it will not become as hard as it once was.
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The Loggerhead Marinelife Center said, "Healing looks good on you, Aelin. Now, the ocean looks even better."
More background
Boat strikes are a major threat to sea turtles. Because turtles must regularly surface to breathe, they are particularly vulnerable in crowded waterways.
When animals such as Aelin are injured, the effects can extend beyond the individual turtle.
Fortunately, according to the center, turtles with shell defects like Aelin's can still survive, and similar cases have shown that they can live successfully for years.
What can be done?
Alongside Aelin's release, Loggerhead Marinelife Center emphasized a prevention message for boaters: "Go Slow for Those Below."
The group recommended that people in local waters reduce speed, wear polarized sunglasses, use a wildlife spotter, and stay alert for turtles surfacing to breathe.
It also highlighted the Sea Turtle Protection Zone (STPZ), which asks for slow travel from the shoreline to one mile offshore across Palm Beach County during sea turtle nesting season.
Where can I learn more?
Aelin's recovery is one of many cases showing how often sea turtles are injured by human activity and how much work it takes to get them back into the wild. They include rehabilitation after a propeller strike, ocean releases, and rescues in Florida and the Canary Islands.
• Delaware rescuers raced to rehabilitate a sea turtle after a devastating propeller strike.
• In North Carolina, scientists returned a green sea turtle to the ocean after rehabilitation.
• In Florida, firefighters and wildlife teams freed a juvenile sea turtle from fishing line.
• In the Canary Islands, experts found a distressed turtle after plastic-related trouble ashore.
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