Celebrity Sea Turtle Returns to Ocean After 41 Years in Captivity

Speedy Summary

• Jorge the Sea Turtle: Jorge, a 220-pound loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), has returned to the Atlantic Ocean after spending over 40 years in captivity at an aquarium in Mendoza, Argentina.
• Rescue and Captivity: he was accidentally captured by fishermen in 1984 and rehabilitated, becoming a local celebrity during his time in a shallow tank far from his oceanic habitat.
• Rehabilitation process: A three-year program helped Jorge recover natural survival instincts such as hunting live prey, navigating currents, and building shelters. This involved adaptations like increasing saltwater salinity levels gradually and introducing live food for hunting practice.
• Historic Release: On April 11,Jorge was released into the Atlantic Ocean to begin his journey toward Praia do Forte in northern Brazil-1,700 miles traveled so far out of approximately 2,500 miles total distance.
• Scientific Importance: A satellite rangefinder on Jorge’s shell provides data on male sea turtles’ migratory patterns-a lesser-understood area of science within this species. Researchers hope he could even contribute to nesting populations due to his reproductive age.

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