VIDEO: N.C. Aquariums and Park Service release 11 sea turtles from cold-stunned season

Eleven of the more than sixty cold-stunned sea turtles who arrived for care at all three N.C. Aquariums in late January of this year were released back into the Atlantic on Wednesday, March 23rd.

At approximately 9:30 a.m., N.C. Aquarium staff met with the National Park Service at an undisclosed location on the beach to release the sea turtles.

The total included the 3 main species most commonly seen off the Outer Banks coastline: Loggerheads, Kemp’s Ridleys, and Green sea turtles.

Cold-stunned turtles experience upper-respiratory infections and hypothermia-like symptoms, leaving them floating on the surface and stranded on surrounding beaches. Once the turtles display normal swimming ability, are eating regularly, and pass a final health screening they are released back into their natural habitat

The N.C. Aquarium was unable to hold a public release event, but live-streamed the joyous occasion via Facebook: