COCOA BEACH, Fla. — Opal the sea turtle returned to the ocean on Wednesday weighing double the amount that she did was she was rescued from Port Canaveral seven months ago.
Zoo officials said Opal arrived at Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center on Dec. 7, after being found floating in a construction zone in Port Canaveral covered in algae and barnacles.
Jess Patterson, coordinator of the Sea Turtle Healing Center, said Opal was underweight and under the weather.
After months of treatment, including regular use of a nebulizer for pneumonia, Opal went back out to sea on Wednesday from Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach.
Opal the sea turtle release Opal the sea turtle returned to the ocean on Wednesday weighing double the amount that she did was she was rescued from Port Canaveral seven months ago. (Brevard Zoo)
Opal the sea turtle release Opal the sea turtle returned to the ocean on Wednesday weighing double the amount that she did was she was rescued from Port Canaveral seven months ago. (Brevard Zoo)
Opal the sea turtle release Opal the sea turtle returned to the ocean on Wednesday weighing double the amount that she did was she was rescued from Port Canaveral seven months ago. (Brevard Zoo)
Opal the sea turtle release Opal the sea turtle returned to the ocean on Wednesday weighing double the amount that she did was she was rescued from Port Canaveral seven months ago. (Brevard Zoo)
Opal the sea turtle release Opal the sea turtle returned to the ocean on Wednesday weighing double the amount that she did was she was rescued from Port Canaveral seven months ago. (Brevard Zoo)
Opal the sea turtle release Opal the sea turtle returned to the ocean on Wednesday weighing double the amount that she did was she was rescued from Port Canaveral seven months ago. (Brevard Zoo)
Sea turtle release A young sea turtle named Opal will be released at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach on Wednesday, July 19. (Brevard Zoo)
Sea turtle release A young sea turtle named Opal will be released at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach on Wednesday, July 19. (Brevard Zoo)
Sea turtle release A young sea turtle named Opal will be released at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach on Wednesday, July 19. (Brevard Zoo)
Sea turtle release A young sea turtle named Opal will be released at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach on Wednesday, July 19. (Brevard Zoo)
Sea turtle release A young sea turtle named Opal will be released at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach on Wednesday, July 19. (Brevard Zoo)
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Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.
