Marine biologists on Florida’s Space Coast have released June Cleaver, a 230-pound loggerhead turtle, back into the ocean. The release took place Wednesday in front of 300 beachgoers after the sea creature’s two-month rehabilitation at the Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center. June Cleaver was first observed in June having difficulty laying eggs at Melbourne Beach. The Sea Turtle Preservation Society transported her to the center, where caretakers discovered she had been hit by a boat. While at the center, the turtle laid 113 eggs in a pool. Biologists buried the eggs at the beach, where they are incubating.
MELBOURNE, Fla. (AP) — She may not wear a pearl necklace like her namesake from the TV show, “Leave it Beaver,” but June Cleaver, the 230-pound loggerhead turtle, nevertheless was happy as a clam to be going home.
Marine biologists on Florida's Space Coast on Wednesday released June Cleaver back into the ocean before 300 beachgoers following a two-month rehabilitation at the Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center in Melbourne, Florida.
The turtle was first observed having difficulty laying eggs in Melbourne Beach in June. The Sea Turtle Preservation Society transported her to the Healing Center, and caretakers discovered that she had been hit by a boat. They gave her several CT scans to make sure that the injury to her top shell wasn't critical, according to the center.
The scans showed that her wound wasn't fatal but she needed rehabilitation. While at the center, she laid 113 eggs in a pool. Biologists buried the eggs in the beach where they are incubating, according to the center.
The center said June Cleaver had “diva” tastes in food, preferring squid over the crabs which typically are favored by loggerheads.