Amelie's Journey: Tracking Amputee Sea Turtles

0:00It's March 26th. This is Durham News Today, local news powered by AI. Veterinarians at the Loggerhead Marine Nive Center in Juneau Beach, Florida are teaming up with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute to track, rehabilitated sea turtles using satellite devices. The focus is on amputees, helping scientists understand how these animals fare back in the ocean after losing a limb. Take a Miley, a Kim's Ridley Turtle rescued seven weeks ago after a severe injury. Staff treated her amputation, cleaned the wound, and cured her pneumonia before gluing a tracker to her shell and releasing her. An ultrasound even showed she's developing eggs, making her journey extra important to follow. This species is the rarest of sea turtles and usually sticks to Florida's Gulf Coast, so spotting one on the Atlantic side was a big deal for the team. Center leaders say it's rewarding to see these tough survivors head back out after intense care. Miley marks the fourth amputee they're monitoring this way.

1:00One named P.R.E. has already swam nearly 700 miles since her January release. The tags activate when turtle's surface to breathe in saltwater, sending location data to satellites for online updates after a 24 hour delay. Tracking these turtles reveals their diving habits and migration paths, proving they can thrive and boost wild populations. You can follow Emily and others right now on the Loggerhead website.