May 10, 2007 11:35 am US/Eastern
'Snoopy Goes Home', 7 Turtles Returned To The Wild
jm
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
It was a big day for 'Snoopy', 'Spoc', and 'Coppertone'.
After months of being nursed back to health at the Miami Seaquarium, seven sea turtles were released back into the wild Thursday morning at Bill Baggs Park.
The group was composed of five loggerhead sea turtles named 'Snoopy', 'Spoc', 'Coppertone', 'Barnacle', and 'Soldier', a green sea turtle named 'Ford', and a Kemps Ridley sea turtle named 'Marley'.
"Seven sea turtles are the most we've ever released at a time. We have had such a busy sea turtle rehabilitation year; it is nice to be able to help so many of these protected species back into the wild," said Dr. Maya Menchaca, a Miami Seaquarium veterinarian.
Miami Seaquarium animal care personnel have rescued more than 20 sea turtle since the beginning of the year.
The seven released Thursday were among those rescued earlier this year from South Florida waters. 'Snoopy', 'Spoc', and 'Coppertone' had to stay in intensive care and be fed by hand daily for four months after being paralyzed from eating a toxic substance. 'Marley' was rescued from entanglement and lost a flipper. The others were found with fishing hooks in their mouths. All seven were nursed back to health and fully recovered before their big return to the wild.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
