In third release of the season, New England Aquarium returns six rehabilitated sea turtles to the Atlantic Ocean

BOSTON, MASS. (July 17, 2025) – In its third beach release of the season, the New England Aquarium returned six sea turtles to the Atlantic Ocean following months of rehabilitation for hypothermia-related medical conditions.

**PHOTOS AND VIDEO AVAILABLE HERE, WITH CREDIT TO THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM**

Aquarium staff, interns, and volunteers lined West Dennis Beach as the four Kemp’s ridley and two loggerhead sea turtles entered Nantucket Sound on Thursday morning. The turtles spent the past seven months undergoing treatment at the Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital in Quincy, MA, for a variety of life-threatening medical conditions, including pneumonia, dehydration, and bone infection, after becoming “cold-stunned” and stranding on the shores of Cape Cod in the late fall/early winter.

“Many of these turtles received advanced diagnostics and intensive medical or surgical treatments, and they’re all currently healthy,” said Dr. Melissa Joblon, Director of Animal Health at the New England Aquarium. “The hard work and dedication of our New England Aquarium teams has paid off, and it’s so rewarding to see these animals get released.”

From November to January, staff and volunteers with Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary walk the beaches along Cape Cod Bay searching for hypothermic turtles to rescue and transport to the Aquarium’s Quincy facility for treatment. The Aquarium treated 518 live sea turtles this past cold-stunning season. There are currently 12 turtles remaining in the Aquarium’s care, with hopes of releasing them off Cape Cod later this summer as rehabilitative care continues.

Most of the turtles that strand on Cape Cod are Kemp’s ridleys, a critically endangered species facing threats including fisheries interactions, climate change, ocean pollution, and degradation of their habitats. Rescue, rehabilitation, and research efforts help to conserve this species.

Aquarium staff, volunteers, and interns have a tradition of naming the turtles receiving long-term care, with this year’s theme being Greek mythology. The turtles released on Wednesday included:

• “Chelone” (#543) – Kemp’s ridley sea turtle
  • Stranded December 5, 2024, in Truro, MA
• “Persephone” (#634) – Kemp’s ridley sea turtle
  • Stranded December 6, 2024, in Truro, MA
• “Zagreus” (#770) – Kemp’s ridley sea turtle
  • Stranded December 7, 2024, in Wellfleet, MA
• “Elpis” (#794) – Loggerhead sea turtle
  • Stranded December 9, 2024, in Truro, MA
  • Satellite tagged for post-release monitoring
• “Jason” (#818) – Kemp’s ridley sea turtle
  • Stranded December 12, 2024, in Provincetown, MA
• “Boreas” (#899) – Loggerhead sea turtle
  • Stranded December 31, 2024, in Truro, MA

MEDIA CONTACT: Pam Bechtold Snyder—617-686-5068; psnyder@neaq.org