355-pound loggerhead sea turtle released back into the ocean at Coquina Beach

The NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island and Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (N.E.S.T) released two rehabilitated sea turtles back into the ocean on Tuesday morning, July 25, at the Coquina Beach Access on Bodie Island.

The two sea turtles included one 355-pound male loggerhead turtle named Behemoth, who was found stranded in August 2022 with severe anemia. The other turtle was a much smaller male juvenile green sea turtle, Frozone, who was stranded in December 2022 with frostbite.

Both turtles were treated at the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center at the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island before they were deemed healthy and ready to go back to their ocean home. The loggerhead sea turtle was also outfitted with a satellite transmitter. Once biologists start receiving location data, it will be shared on the Aquarium’s social media channels and website, alongside another adult female, Miss Piggy, who was released in May 2023.

The STAR Center still has a number of turtle patients, and additional public releases may be hosted in the near future. In the meantime, the public can keep tabs on upcoming releases and other turtle-centric events via the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island’s Facebook page.