Endangered sea turtle ‘Pancake’ returns to the Atlantic after months of rehabilitation
Crowds gathered outside the New York Aquarium to watch the 11-pound sea turtle take its first swim back into the wild.
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Cheers erupted along the beach at Coney Island on Wednesday as an endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle named Pancake made its way back into the Atlantic Ocean after months of rehabilitation.
Crowds gathered outside the New York Aquarium to watch the 11-pound sea turtle take its first swim back into the wild. Children and families chanted "Pancake! Pancake! Pancake!" as the turtle disappeared into the waves.
Pancake's journey began hundreds of miles away in Massachusetts, where the young turtle was found cold-stunned on a beach last fall. Cold stunning occurs when sea turtles are exposed to water temperatures that are too cold, leaving them too weak to swim or feed on their own.
After the rescue, Pancake was transferred to the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society's Sea Turtle Care Facility in Westhampton Beach, where the turtle spent months recovering before veterinarians determined it was healthy enough to return to the ocean.
"That doesn't happen without the help of the volunteers being able to provide care, get medications," said Rob Di Giovanni, executive director of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society.
Scientists say every successful release is important because Kemp's ridley sea turtles are an endangered species, and each rescued animal contributes to conservation efforts.
The release also served as a reminder that New York's waters are home to more than just beachgoers. Sea turtles, whales, sharks and other marine wildlife rely on healthy coastal ecosystems, making conservation efforts critical along the state's shoreline.
The New York Secretary of State Walter Mosley shared, “We collectively work together, pull our resources together, so that we can do things like this that represent the preservation of our ecosystems”
Di Giovanni said the public plays a vital role in helping injured marine animals.
"It starts with the public being able to say, 'Hey, I see something here,' and they say something about it and they call. And then that animal was recovered," he said.
If you encounter a stranded or injured sea turtle, experts recommend keeping your distance, avoiding contact with the animal and notifying trained marine rescue professionals or park officials.
For Pancake, Wednesday marked the beginning of a second chance back in the wild.
