Lost Sea Turtle, Rescued a Mile from the Gulf, Makes Uplifting Return Home

Tarpon Springs, FL (February 12, 2025) – With cameras in hand and cheers filling the air, beachgoers at Fred Howard Park watched in awe as Buckley, a resilient green sea turtle, made its return to the Gulf waters. This was a celebration of survival, second chances, and the power of rehabilitation for Buckley to go back home.

Found stranded more than a mile from the ocean in November, Buckley’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Thanks to three months of dedicated rehabilitation at The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Apollo Beach, today marked a long-awaited homecoming—showcasing the incredible efforts to protect Florida’s endangered sea turtles.

“This is why we do what we do—to see a once-struggling sea turtle like Buckley return home, stronger and healthier. It’s heartwarming,” said Ashley Riese, The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Conservation Program Director. “Buckley’s recovery is a testament to the incredible collaboration between rescuers, the Aquarium’s animal care team, veterinarians, and our entire community.”

>>> CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD VIDEO & PHOTOS OF BUCKLEY, INCLUDING SATELLITE TAGGING PROCESS AND RELEASE TO THE OCEAN + SOUND <<<

Courtesy: The Florida Aquarium

Buckley’s Remarkable Journey

Buckley’s rescue began when Good Samaritans discovered the turtle in trouble on a dirt road in rural Dixie County in November—nowhere near the ocean where it belonged. A call to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Hotline set lifesaving efforts in motion. The University of Florida Marine Animal Rescue initially responded, stabilizing Buckley, before transferring the turtle to The Florida Aquarium for treatment. For the past three months, the Aquarium’s staff has worked diligently to help the turtle regain weight, stabilize dangerously low blood sugar levels, and heal scratches to its bottom shell from navigating rough terrain.

Community and Conservation in Action

Named after the nearby Buck Creek, Buckley’s story has inspired community support from the very beginning. After hearing Buckley’s name, local businessman Ed Buckley, a passionate advocate for marine conservation, felt a personal connection and wanted to help.

“When I heard they rescued a turtle with my same name, I knew I had to get involved,” said Ed Buckley. “There’s a strong connection between Buckley and me—maybe it’s the name, maybe it’s kindred spirits—but one thing I do know is that protecting sea turtles is important. Their survival depends on all of us stepping up and hope the community will be compelled to help as well.”

Ed donated $7,500 to underwrite the turtle’s medical expenses and encouraged others to contribute to support Buckley’s care, which has topped $10,000. At The Florida Aquarium, each sea turtle receives comprehensive medical care—comparable to critical care for people and pets—including examinations, x-rays, bloodwork, ongoing treatments and medications throughout their stay. While sea turtles are categorized as endangered, there are currently no government funding programs available to offset these expenses.

Follow Buckley’s Journey in Real-Time

Thanks to a grant from Verizon and in collaboration with the Sea Turtle Conservancy, Buckley embarks on this journey with a satellite tag attached to the turtle’s shell (carapace). This unique opportunity allows the community and biologists to track Buckley’s travels and gather valuable conservation data.

Each time Buckley surfaces to breathe, the tag will send a signal to a satellite, enabling real-time tracking of feeding habits, migratory patterns, and environmental conditions like water temperatures. This innovative research will help scientists at The Florida Aquarium better understand sea turtle behaviors and improve future sea turtle rehabilitation efforts.

“Verizon’s continued support of The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Program underscores the importance of providing biologists with essential tools and connecting the community to the heart of these marine conservation efforts,” said Riese.

Track Buckley’s journey HERE (will be live within 24 hours to a week after release).

To note: All sea turtle rehabilitation work conducted by The Florida Aquarium is done with the approval of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under conditions not harmful to marine turtles and authorized under conservation activities pursuant to FWC MTP-25-179.

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Contact The Florida Aquarium communications@flaquarium.org