New England Aquarium Releases 18 Sea Turtles Back Into the Ocean

SouthCoast residents aren't the only ones eagerly awaiting a return to the ocean. The New England Aquarium, based in Boston, just released sea turtles back into their natural habitat.

While water temperatures here in New England are still a bit too cold to take a plunge, the waters down south are perfect for the rescued terrapins.

From Rescue to Rehabilitation

"Once our veterinarians cleared them for release, we coordinated a ground transport south, where ocean temperatures are suitable for re-acclimation," the New England Aquarium shared.

A 24-Hour Journey South

Biologists from the aquarium drove over 24 hours roundtrip to release 18 sea turtles in Fort Fisher, North Carolina.

New England Aquarium via Facebook

You may have gone on long car rides with kids or even pets, but how does one travel with a turtle?

How Sea Turtles Are Safely Transported

"During transport, the vehicle temperature is carefully set to match the water at the release site and monitored throughout the journey. The turtles also receive fluids to help prepare them for their return to the wild," New England Aquarium shared.

A Successful Return to the Wild

"Four of the 18 turtles were picked up from Mystic Aquarium. They were initially triaged by our team before continuing their rehabilitation there," New England Aquarium said in its Facebook post. "In total, all 18 turtles successfully made it back home to the ocean in our first release of the season."

Photos: 18 Rescued Sea Turtles Return to the Ocean

Explore photos of 18 rehabilitated sea turtles released into the Atlantic Ocean after months of care by the New England Aquarium. The turtles were transported to North Carolina and returned to the wild in a major conservation milestone.

Gallery Credit: Michaela Johnson

Explore Land and Sea at Bristol's Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium

Need a day of hiking, biking and seeing a 33-foot North Atlantic Right Whale replica? Then you need to head to the Rhode Island Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol.

You can hike through various habitats, enjoy a peaceful pondside picnic and even enjoy an interactive aquarium full of native fish and sea creatures.

Fun for the whole family can be found at this hidden gem of Rhode Island.

Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall

New England Wildlife Center's Cutest Turtle Bandage Designs

If you're going to have to replace a box turtle's back end bandages every day, you might as well have fun with it. That must have been the thought behind these fruit themed bandages created by New England Wildlife Center staff.

Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall