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Injured Loggerhead Turtle Pennywise Returns to the Wild

Conservationists warn boat speeds must be reduced in designated protection zones to prevent further threats to nesting turtles.

FILE - An adult female loggerhead sea turtle named Pennywise swims in a rehabilitation tank at Loggerhead Marinelife Center on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Juno Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Cody Jackson, file)
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Overview

  • After months of treatment at Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Pennywise was released at Juno Beach on July 30 once veterinarians deemed her healthy.
  • Medical imaging at a horse clinic revealed that Pennywise was carrying eggs, allowing her to proceed with nesting this season.
  • Rescuers found Pennywise weighing 302 pounds after a boat strike injured her off the Florida coast in May.
  • Florida’s sea turtle nesting season runs through October 31, offering Pennywise the opportunity to lay her clutch in protected areas.
  • Officials emphasize the one-mile (1.6 km) sea turtle protection zone, urging boaters to slow down to reduce collision risks.