A 268-pound loggerhead sea turtle named Swim Shady made her triumphant return to the Atlantic Ocean on Monday morning, nearly three months after she was badly injured in a boat collision off Florida’s coast.
According to The Associated Press, the endangered turtle was released back into the wild behind the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach as a crowd of locals cheered her on.
“It’s a beautiful day out here today, and not surprising there were a lot of people who showed up for the event,” said Dr. Heather Barron, the center’s chief science officer and veterinarian. “I think people really identify with that sense of going home and freedom and recovering from illness or injury.”
Swim Shady was first discovered stranded near Port St. Lucie in August by the Inwater Research Group. She had severe buoyancy issues and limited vision in one eye — signs of trauma from a boat strike.
“Boat strikes for sea turtles are very common, particularly this time of year because we are reaching the end of the mating season,” Barron explained. “A lot of humans who are out there enjoying the summer fun as well don’t see the turtles and inadvertently hit them.”
During her evaluation, veterinarians discovered Swim Shady was also carrying eggs and suffering from anemia. She underwent surgery to remove a damaged piece of her shell and received antibiotics and weeks of supportive care.
Her recovery was sponsored by a travel gear company that held a public contest to choose her name — Swim Shady, a playful nod to her resilient spirit and famous rapper namesake.
Loggerhead sea turtles, a threatened species found in oceans across the globe, can weigh up to 440 pounds and live as long as 60 years. They spend most of their lives at sea, only coming ashore to nest.
Monday’s release marked a moment of hope amid ongoing conservation challenges for Florida’s marine life.
As the massive turtle paddled back into the surf, Dr. Barron said the moment captured what the work is all about: “Freedom, recovery, and second chances — that’s what today represents.”
