Sea Turtle Specialists Release Two Juveniles

The group returned two rehabilitated green sea turtles to the ocean at Atlantic Dunes Park in Delray Beach.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Reptiles

Screen-print poster illustration of two sea turtles crawling on sand toward the ocean, evoking a warm sense of nature restoration. — Sea Turtle Specialists returned two rehabilitated green sea turtles to the Atlantic Ocean on October 20 at Delray Beach's Atlantic Dunes Park. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Sea Turtle Specialists released two juvenile green sea turtles named Windward and Wheezy back into the ocean on October 20, 2026. The animals were returned to the Atlantic Dunes Park shoreline following their successful rehabilitation.

Why it matters

The turtles required medical intervention after suffering from human-related injuries in the wild. Windward had been hooked, while Wheezy was found entangled in fishing line.

Sea Turtle Specialists has rescued 3,000 hatchlings and 50 sea turtles during its three years of operation. The release occurred despite conditions of 30 mph wind gusts and 10-foot waves.

The players

Sea Turtle Specialists

This is an organization that has spent three years dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of marine life in the region.

Windward

This is a juvenile green sea turtle that required rehabilitation after being hooked by fishing equipment.

Wheezy

This is a juvenile green sea turtle that was rescued in August 2026 after its neck became entangled in fishing line.

The details

The turtles were released by staff from Sea Turtle Specialists after completing their recovery process. A group of spectators watched as the two juveniles were returned to their natural habitat at the beach.

August 2026: Wheezy was rescued after being found entangled in fishing line.
October 20, 2026: The two sea turtles were released at the beach.

Culture Shift

The release aligns with the established standards set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation protocol. It highlights a growing societal commitment to mitigating the environmental impact of human activity on local marine populations.

Residents and beachgoers in Delray Beach can support marine conservation by ensuring all fishing line and hooks are properly disposed of at designated bins. Proper disposal prevents future entanglements and helps maintain the health of the local ecosystem.

The takeaway

Human-related injuries like entanglement and hooking remain a significant threat to juvenile green sea turtles. Public awareness regarding proper fishing gear disposal is essential to reducing the number of animals that require human rescue and rehabilitation.