Destin Log posted June 25 8:48 AM

GRAYTON BEACH- Carried to the water’s edge in a tub because of his large size and strength, Moray, a green sea turtle weighing 32 pounds, lifted his head out of the  water  looking at the Gulf, his home, for the first time since being rehabilitated.

Moray was one of the eight sea turtles released back into the Gulf of Mexico Monday. Injuries from hooks and other fishing gear landed them under the care of the Gulfarium C.A.R.E (Conserve, Act, Rehabilitate, Educate) Center.

Jovi, a juvenile green sea turtle, was previously found at Marler Park with the underside of her shell sunken and had a fishing hook and line in her intestine. A surgery was performed to remove the fishing gear and Jovi had post-surgical treatment including antibiotics, laser therapy and a nutrition plan. She was one of the sea turtles released on Monday.

Oreo, an 84 pound sub-adult loggerhead, who also quickly made its way back into the Gulf of Mexico water. Oreo was hooked earlier this year at the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier where it ingested fishing gear into its esophagus, and had to undergo surgery.

Terra Throgmorton is a senior aquarist at the Gulfarium. She said unfortunately, some turtles that have been released by the Gulfarium will return with another injury. Although she hopes they never get hurt again. Luckily a silver lining exists: The Gulfarium tracks the sea creatures with a microchip inserted into the turtles’ flipper tag.

Sea turtle releases can be emotional for Throgmorton, who plays an essential role in the rehabilitation of sea turtles. “ It’s exciting because I know they’re going to go out and hopefully be a productive member of their turtle society, reproduce, and go on for generations to come .”

This story originally published to  nwfdailynews.com , and was shared to other Florida newspapers in the GateHouse Media network.

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