Holiday Sea Turtle Release off Juno Beach!

Bid farewell to “Nicklen,” a loggerhead sea turtle named after National Geographic photographer and Go Blue Awards keynote speaker

Next Tuesday, Dec. 27, Loggerhead Marinelife Center will release Nicklen, a large juvenile loggerhead sea turtle, from its facility. Nicklen was found last October floating in the Jupiter Inlet near Dubois Park. The turtle had numerous barnacles covering the shell and flippers and a buoyancy issue most likely caused by an infection in the intestines. Radiographs confirmed an abnormal amount of gas in the intestines. After antibiotics and fluids, LMC’s hospital staff has cleared Nicklen for release into the turtle’s ocean home.

Nicklen was named in honor of National Geographic photographer and marine biologist Paul Nicklen, a globally-acclaimed photographer who has devoted his life to igniting conversations about the planet’s health – including speaking at LMC’s Eighth Annual Go Blue Awards Luncheon last October.

Nicklen the sea turtle will be prepared for release from LMC starting at 10:30 a.m. A history of the turtle’s journey and final preparations will be conveyed to visitors by one of LMC’s education docents. A procession to the beach to facilitate the turtles’ release into the ocean will follow.

Local staff will be available for media interviews at their discretion – please contact Hannah Deadman, public relations & communications coordinator, at hdeadman@marinelife.org or (561) 627-8280 ext. 124.

*Surf and wind conditions may impact the scheduling of this release. Please check www.marinelife.org and LMC’s social media channels for the latest updates of the release date.