Clearwater Marine Aquarium released Haleakala back into the wild off of Honeymoon Island on March 1, 2023.
Haleakala
Haleakala is a juvenile green sea turtle who was found washed ashore near Anclote Key Preserve State Park on December 28, 2022. Upon initial assessments it was determined Haleakala was in good body condition, had a mild case of fibropapillomatosis and stranded due to cold body temperature.
Sea turtles are cold-blooded animals, this means they rely on their natural environment to regulate their body temperature. When cold weather drastically changes the water temperature, sea turtles become lethargic and vulnerable to other threats.
While in our care, Haleakala underwent fibropapilloma tumor removal surgery. After a short period in rehabilitation, we are very excited to share Haleakala has been cleared for release by our veterinarian and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission!
All marine turtle footage taken in Florida was obtained with the approval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under conditions not harmful to marine turtles. Footage was acquired while conducting authorized conservation activities pursuant to FWC MTP-21/22-172A.