Celebrating World Sea Turtle Day: Meet the Team Saving Sea Turtles
Did you know that more than 350 sea turtles have been rehabilitated and released by Disney’s animal care experts over the past four decades? On this World Sea Turtle Day, meet our amazing animal care team at The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT who are making a difference every day in the survival of this beautiful species.
Research shows that Sea turtle populations may be recovering but they continue to face threats across the world including habitat loss, pollution and poaching and efforts to help their population continue to grow are vital. At The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT, a dedicated team of cast members are focused on rehabilitating injured sea turtles who have been found off Florida's coast in need of care. Recently, the team received three cold-stunned turtles named Bond, Little Foot and Thunder, through the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission who were found off the coast of Jacksonville. Cold-stunning is a condition that occurs when sea turtles become weak and inactive due to cold water temperatures.
Recovering from this type of hypothermia can be life-threatening, but these three turtles received world-class care and made full recoveries thanks to our animal care team. Bond, a juvenile green sea turtle, unfortunately had additional complications when he was found. Struggling with pneumonia, a team of aquarists and veterinarians curated a care plan that prepared him for his release into the wild near St. Augustine last month.
“Sea turtle rehab medicine is one of my favorite parts of being a veterinarian,” said Dr. Kyle, a veterinarian with Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment. “It’s a small way that I can try to restore some health to the ocean and share this message with our Guests at Disney to inspire communities to protect and preserve the ocean.”
Like Bond, hundreds of other turtles have made their way to Walt Disney World and back into the big blue. Rehabilitating and releasing sea turtles is a practice Disney has long supported and been a part of, which is not only necessary to support the species, but incredibly rewarding for cast members who are passionate about these animals.
“We can all make a difference by keeping beaches clean, turning off lights near the shore at night, avoiding marked nests and knocking down your sandcastles,” says Emily, a conservation programs manager who leads Disney’s Sea turtle conservation efforts. “Every small action helps create a safer, healthier environment for sea turtles and coastal wildlife.”
And it takes a mighty team to address the conservation needs the sea turtle species requires. To date, the Disney Conservation Fund has helped protect more than 1,000 species of wildlife across every continent and every ocean, including sea turtles.
Next up: The annual Tour de Turtles event at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, where hundreds of Guests will join Disney Conservation and the Sea Turtle Conservancy at the shoreline to watch the release of two sea turtles in July. Stay tuned for even more incredible sea turtle conservation stories!
