A satellite-tagged green sea turtle named “Chunk” returns to the ocean waters off West Dennis Beach, Mass., on June 23, 2026. Photo: Vanessa Kahn/New England Aquarium
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Staff members from the New England Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital in Quincy released 12 sea turtles into the waters off Cape Cod on Tuesday following months of life-saving treatment and rehabilitation.
The five Kemp’s ridleys, four loggerheads, and three green sea turtles were the first group of rehabilitated sea turtles released by the Aquarium this summer.
For the past seven months, staff treated the hypothermic turtles for a variety of serious medical conditions, including pneumonia, dehydration, and trauma.
Loggerhead and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are threatened or endangered species, facing threats including climate change, ocean pollution, and habitat loss.
Rescue and rehabilitation efforts help to conserve these species.
“As we complete the first sea turtle release of the season, I’m reminded what this rescue and rehabilitation work makes possible,” said Adam Kennedy, Director of Rescue and Rehabilitation at the New England Aquarium. “We dedicate months to the turtles' recovery, and seeing them return to their ocean home off Cape Cod is the goal. This work is critical to the long-term survival of these species.”
Aquarium staff, volunteers, and interns have a tradition of naming the turtles receiving long-term care, with this year’s theme being font-inspired names.
Turtles released this past week include Helvetica, Pretty Pretty Princess, Rage Italic, and Verdana.