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Join us Wednesday morning as we send King George, a loggerhead sea turtle, home for the holidays!

Gulf World Marine Institute (GWMI) is releasing “King George”, a subadult loggerhead sea turtle, back into the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday morning, November 27, 2024, at 830 am CT at 438 W Park Place Avenue, Inlet Beach, Florida.

This was not King George’s first experience in the GWMI rehabilitation program; this subadult loggerhead actually first came to the team back in 2023, and stayed for 3 months undergoing treatment for fishing gear interactions before being successfully released in October of 2023. This summer, on August 9th, King George was found at the M.B. Miller County Pier, and was once again carrying fishing gear! Not only was this turtle carrying a fishing hook with line coming from the mouth, but King George was also entangled in fishing line that wrapped around the left front flipper! The rescuers actually noted the entanglement first and began rescue operations!

Thanks to the assistance of the individual who spotted King George, the M.B. Miller County Pier management, Code Enforcement staff, and Panama City Beach Turtle Watch team, King George was safely recovered and brought into GWMI for further assessment. King George was entangled in a mixture of monofilament and braided fishing line, and was trailing some extra line with hooks in a wad from the front flipper. Additionally, the line coming from the mouth was attached to a J-hook, which was removed quickly by the veterinary staff. The entangling material was then carefully removed from the front flipper, and the wound was treated to begin healing. While the entanglement was deep, the flipper was able to move well and begin recovery. And after a few months, undergoing antibiotics to prevent infection, and continued monitoring of blood work and behaviors, King George has been given a clean bill of health and is cleared for release!

Gulf World Marine Institute is very grateful to those involved in the rescue and transport of these sea turtles, including the fisherman, M.B. Miller County Pier, Code Enforcement, and PCB Turtle Watch! King George has been medically cleared by veterinary staff and has been cleared for release by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The public is invited to attend this event. Please keep in mind this event is subject to change based on weather conditions.

GWMI would like to thank everyone involved in the rescue of stranded sea turtles. If you see a stranded or deceased dolphin, whale or sea turtle, please immediately report to Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, 1-888-404-3922 or #FWC on your cell phone.