They survived the cold. They made the flight. Now help them finish the journey.

Thanks to donors like you, Operation Turtle Takeoff rescued hundreds of cold-stunned sea turtles from New England beaches and flew them to rehabilitation centers and aquariums. These turtles — endangered Kemp's ridleys and others — were slowly warmed, carefully monitored, and nursed back to health by marine biologists. Now, the next chapter begins.

Two of those turtles, going by the names Leonardo and Michelangelo, were just released after an extensive rehab process. Both recovered from pneumonia and frostbite as well as missing flipper tips. Leonardo lost an entire flipper. Both are Kemp's ridleys, the most endangered of all seven species of sea turtle.

They were able to build strength and work their way toward the moment they coud finally get released back into the wild. But getting a cold-stunned sea turtle from "rescued" to "released" takes months of specialized veterinary care, feeding, and round-the-clock monitoring. And that costs money.

Your donation funds the full rehabilitation and release of even more endangered turtles like Leonardo and Michelangelo.

How Rehabilitation Works: After their flights, receiving organizations assess each turtle's health and design an individualized treatment plan. Turtles are reintroduced to feeding, monitored for recovery, and cleared for release only after passing full diagnostic tests. Every step takes time, expertise, and resources — all made possible by supporters like you.

Sea turtles have navigated our oceans for over 100 million years. Help more sick turtles get back out there by donating today. Together we can do great things. 

Nursed Back to Health, New Names, and Sent Back Home

Photo: Mississippi Aquarium

This May, Leonardo and Michelangelo, two cold-stunned sea turtles that you helped us fly to Mississippi, supported their rehabilitation, and gave gnarly new names, were released along with dozens of other turtles. 

Leonardo and Michelangelo had both been found in Massachusetts suffering from pneumonia, frost bite, and other life-threatening ailments. They were flown to the Mississippi Aquarium, where they were nursed back. These juvenile, Kemp's ridley sea turtles will now have a chance to grow big and strong. 

But more turtles continue their rehabilitation and await their day to be sent home. You can help us save these incredible turtles today.