Winnie the loggerhead sea turtle was released back into the ocean Tuesday morning after spending two months being nursed back to health on Key Biscayne. She was found injured near the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant in April, lethargic and thin, with a small wound on her shell from striking a boat.
After two months of care at the Miami Seaquarium, Winnie gained 11 pounds and rediscovered her energetic personality. Kids from the Seaquarium's Summer Camp, which aims to foster interest in marine life and conservation, got to say goodbye to Winnie as she waddled back into the Atlantic Ocean.
"Winnie's a loggerhead sea turtle and their numbers are going down, so bringing her to the ocean can help the population," said 11-year-old Jacob Palacio.
Winnie was released at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, where Animal Care Supervisor Jessica Schiffhauer urged her towards the water as families cheered. She says that because the spot is a popular nesting beach for sea turtles, it was chosen in the hope that Winnie will quickly find other turtles to welcome her home.
