Monday, November 28, 2011

Close Encounters of the Turtle Kind



People who know the Treasure Coast of Florida are familiar with Loggerhead Marinelife Center and their cutting edge work on turtle rescue and rehabilitation.
 

Their facility in Juno Beach was recently the scene of a turtle release, unique because 2 turtles, Kiko and Rodeo, were both rescued and operated on in July 2011 for ingestion of monofilament fishing line.   They were both released in November 2011 with celebrity pomp and circumstance.

This turtle release especially touched me because I have been watching LMC’s   new “TurtleCam” on their website.  You can check it out at:








I thought it was so neat and even tried to watch it in the dark, though there wasn’t much to see.  The camera looked in on the tank Kiko occupied.  During the past week she had gotten more and more active, then single-mindedly she started going from the observation window to the water spout into her tank, over and over.  Kiko seemed to know she was healthy enough to be released.  Rodeo became active at his window too.  I seriously believe they both understood when the big day arrived, that they were going home.



LMC’s turtle releases are open to the public.  They rope off an avenue on the beach that allows them to carry the turtles close to the water.  The turtle teams unfasten the protective jackets they wear to prevent injury on the trek to the ocean.  Spectators on both sides share in this uplifting event, the children especially showing their excitement and joy in the moment.





Kiko headed for the water, then turned as if to say goodbye to the human family that had helped her.  She stood up tall on her legs then stretched her neck and lifted her head high, nose to the wind, she followed the sea breeze and returned to her home.