Huge, old sea turtle returns to Atlantic after rescue, rehab

A 270-pound loggerhead sea turtle named Timmy was recently released into the wild at a Florida beach, weeks after her rescue by the Coast Guard. Timmy’s release into the waters of the Atlantic took place at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, at a ceremony attended by a large, cheering crowd, the Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday.

Boaters in the Florida Keys area initially spotted the huge turtle struggling to swim. They called the Coast Guard, who rescued the turtle and transferred her to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Fla.

The hospital staff spent weeks caring for and assessing the turtle, whose age was estimated at 70-80 years. Loggerheads’ total lifespans are unknown, but Timmy is likely among the oldest. She received medications and vitamins while living in a shallow pool at the hospital, before transferring to a larger tidal pool environment as she gained strength. The hospital didn’t share what caused her initial symptoms, though it said she tested negative for biotoxins.