Juno Beach, Florida – Cheers rose from the crowd of people as Loggerhead sea turtle The survivor of a possible shark attack returned to the ocean after months of rehabilitation in Florida, carrying a satellite tracking device to see how she fared with just three fins.
The air at the beach was cold, with temperatures in the 40s F (about 4 to 9 C). The Atlantic Ocean was hovering around a comfortable temperature of 77 F (25 C), said Heather Barron, chief science officer and veterinarian at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach.
To acclimate the turtle to returning to the atmosphere, the facility kept the water temperature in its tank at about 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius), Barron said. Beachgoers took pictures of the turtle crawling on the sand, with the long satellite antenna waving in the air, before it disappeared in the waves.
The turtle was named Pyari, an Indian term meaning “beautiful” or “lovable.” She arrived at the center in November from the nearby Inwater Research Group.
The Marine Center said in a statement that a type of predator tried to eat her, which led to Pyari sustaining severe injuries to her neck, shell, and front flippers. This led to the amputation of most of her left front limb.
“It’s definitely always gratifying to see these animals back home in the ocean,” Baron said. “I think it’s particularly gratifying to be able to track them via satellite, and see exactly where they’re going and what they’re doing.”
While these satellite tags are expensive, about $10,000 each, Baron said it’s important to collect data on these three-legged turtles because scientists know very little about how well they do after rehabilitation.
She added that in addition to Pyari, the center is tracking two other amputees. “Every little bit of information helps us understand the behavior and success of these animals.”
Follow a trip Labari and other turtles on the center’s website.