SAN DIEGO — The Coast Guard transported an endangered olive ridley sea turtle from Newport, Oregon, to San Diego SeaWorld Rescue for rehabilitation, Tuesday.
The turtle, nicknamed Solstice, was found hypothermic and injured in Washington, in December 2014. The turtle was taken to the Oregon Coast Aquarium where she was treated for her injuries and initial rehabilitation.
A Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, California, HC-130 air crew transported the turtle with a representative of the Oregon Coast Aquarium to SeaWorld Rescue, where the turtle will continue her rehabilitation for eventual release to the wild once she is fully recovered.
"The Coast Guard enjoys a great reputation for safeguarding living marine resources and marine environmental protection," said Cmdr. Kevin Smith, operations officer at Air Station Sacramento. "Allowing our aircrews to transport a distressed sea turtle while accomplishing routing training makes this mission particularly satisfying."
The aircrew used the turtle's transport as an opportunity to train for other emergency situations that could involve small airports and passengers that require critical care during a flight.