By Lori Leath Smith
There’s just something special about seeing a sea turtle make its way back home to the Gulf. And recently at Inlet Beach Regional Access here in Walton County, locals and visitors gathered for not just one — but multiple unforgettable sea turtle releases hosted by the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center.
Earlier this month, seven rehabilitated sea turtles were released back into the Gulf with support from The St. Joe Community Foundation. The event celebrated the recovery journeys of rescued turtles that had overcome injuries or health challenges under the care of the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center team.
One turtle especially captured everyone’s attention that morning — Apricot, a 184-pound adult male loggerhead. It took several people to carefully carry the massive turtle down to the shoreline before his long-awaited return to the Gulf. Apricot was the largest of the seven sea turtles released during the event and drew plenty of excitement from the crowd gathered along the beach.
Families lined the shoreline early that morning, cameras in hand, as each turtle slowly made its way toward the water. The release served as both a celebration and a reminder of the important rescue and rehabilitation work happening right here in our back yard at the Gulfarium.
And the turtle stories didn’t stop there. Just days later, another special release took place at Inlet Beach when Mr. Krabs — an 11-pound juvenile Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle and recent FOX Weather star — returned home to the Gulf after recovering at the CARE Center.
Mr. Krabs was rescued April 24 from the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier after a hook became lodged in his mouth. After several weeks of treatment and rehabilitation, the little turtle was finally healthy enough to head back into Gulf waters.
Sea turtle releases have become meaningful community events throughout Northwest Florida, offering a firsthand look at conservation efforts while also creating memorable experiences for children and adults alike.
For many in attendance, it was a simple, but powerful, reminder of why protecting our coastal environment matters — and just how rewarding it is to watch these incredible animals get a second chance back in the wild.
