CLEARWATER, Fla. — Clearwater Marine Aquarium released the largest rescued sea turtle to date Tuesday afternoon.
- 225-pound rescued sea turtle released
- Kirby was found floating near Indian Rocks Beach
- Turtle had T-shaped wound, barnacles and algae on it
Kirby, a 225-pound endangered loggerhead sea turtle, was found floating near Indian Rocks Beach on January 29 of this year.
CMA staff rescued Kirby and found a T-shaped wound on his head, several barnacles, and algae on his carapace. Thankfully he was able to make a full recovery and return home to the Gulf.
“Kirby’s release is both rewarding and emotional for our team members who have worked hard for months on his rehabilitation,” says David Yates, CEO of CMA. “Seeing a rescued animal return home to the ocean where they belong is one of the best parts of our job.”
Kirby was also satellite tagged so staff can evaluate his movements. Satellite tagging is beneficial for research purposes, including the migration of sea turtles, their foraging behavior, and more. People will also be able to track Kirby's journey on CMA's website.