National Aquarium to Release 100th Rescue Animal!
The National Aquarium is set to release its 100th rescue animal (and its 101st and 102nd), with the release of three sea turtles, at Point Lookout State Park in Scotland, MD.
Since 1991, National Aquarium’s Animal Rescue team has been responsible for responding to stranded marine mammals and sea turtles along the Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia) Peninsula, primarily along the nearly 4,360 miles of Maryland coast. The team has successfully rescued, treated, and returned the animals to their natural habitats and, on June 22, the team will release three more – marking their 100, 101 and 102 releases!
The turtles that will be released came to National Aquarium during the 2012 record-breaking cold-stun season in New England. Two Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, named by the Aquarium team Duckie and Bender, as well as one green sea turtle, named Willard, are three of the four remaining turtles that have been rehabilitating with the Aquarium.
In addition to the three sea turtles from National Aquarium, four more Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles are expected to be released by the National Marine Life Center. All four turtles being released by the National Marine Life Center were rescued in November in Massachusetts.
National Aquarium and the National Marine Life Center are members of the Northeast Stranding Network (NERS) through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and are among a network of nationally recognized facilities that work cooperatively to respond to and treat stranded marine mammals and sea turtles.
WHEN:
Saturday, June 22, 2013
4:00 p.m. EST
WHERE:
Point Lookout State Park; Swimming Beach
11175 Point Lookout Road
Scotland, Maryland 20687 (St. Mary’s County)
Normal park entrance fees will apply for those who want to be present for the release.
National Marine Life Center
The National Marine Life Center is an independent, not-for-profit marine animal hospital and science and education center. Our mission is to rehabilitate and release stranded marine mammals and sea turtles in order to advance science and education in marine wildlife health and conservation. For more information on the National Marine Life Center, visit www.nmlc.org.