The Reef's Newest Resident

More than 60 species live in Blacktip Reef: dozens of Indo-Pacific reef fishes, four species of shark, two species of ray ... and now, one unique green sea turtle. The turtle, nicknamed Kai, is eye-catching for many reasons. One of the most obvious is that she floats very easily. Diving, on the other hand, is a bit more challenging.

Kai came to the National Aquarium in 2020, having been rescued off the coast of the Carolinas in 2018 after being struck by a boat. While the injuries from the strike have interfered with her buoyancy control and deemed her non-releasable, she is otherwise healthy and thriving.

Dr. Aimee Berliner, director of Animal Health, describes how the Aquarium's Animal Care, Animal Health, and even the Exhibits and Fabrication teams have worked with Kai since her arrival to better understand and manage her buoyancy. The teams continue to experiment with the best way to rebalance her in the water, but they're also learning more about her needs as she explores her new habitat. And explore she has—even showing off her diving abilities, slow and steady as they are.

Be sure to look for Kai during your next visit. Just watch for ripples on the water's surface as her shell bobs up and down!