SEA TURTLE SECOND CHANCE Program

Every year, hundreds of sea turtles are beached or stranded in cold water due to injury, disease, illness, or environmental threats. Our Sea Turtle Second Chance Program is helping change their stories through rescue, veterinary care, rehabilitation, and release back into the wild.

Nestled within the Aquarium, the Pittsburgh Zoo’s sea turtle rehabilitation center provides world-class care with the goal of release and a renewed hope for survival for every turtle.

The program has been rescuing and rehabilitating sea turtles every year for over a decade. Our most recent bale of turtles, seven green sea turtles, arrived in December 2022, after being rescued from cool water that left their bodies stunned. During their recovery at the Aquarium, the turtles were given a restorative diet and physical rehabilitation by the Zoo’s animal care staff until they were fit for rerelease.

In February 2023, the turtles were cleared to return to the ocean. The team from the Zoo left Pittsburgh on Sunday, February 12 for Saint Augustine, Florida. To keep the animals comfortable during the long drive, the transport van was kept at 75 degrees and the team stopped multiple times to apply lubricant and eye ointment to the turtles.

The team arrived in Saint Augustine in the late morning on Monday, February 13. As they got closer to the beach, the Zoo team opened the windows so the turtles could smell the salty sea air. The turtles responded with increased activity in the vehicle. At the beach, the team was greeted by park rangers and a crowd of people eager to watch the release.

After a few moments of trying to figure out how to move in the sand, the turtles made their way to open water within 15 minutes. Despite the short goodbye, the turtle recovery and release remains inspiring to see.

Visit our social pages @pghzoo to view media from the trip and future updates. 

The Sea Turtle Second Chance program is generously sponsored by Peoples.