The chants weren’t for a food competition. They were for a sea turtle — a Kemp’s ridley named Pancake, who on July 23rd was finally returned to the ocean after eight months of rehabilitation.
It was a moment worth cheering for. Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the most endangered sea turtles in the world, and every individual that makes it back to the open water is a small but meaningful victory for the species.
“Every Kemp’s ridley returned to the ocean is a victory,” said John F. Calvelli of the Wildlife Conservation Society. “Pancake’s release reminds us that New Yorkers share our ocean with sea turtles, whales, dolphins, sharks, and countless other remarkable marine species.”
How it all began
Last November, Pancake was among 667 sea turtles swept up in a mass cold-stunning event — a phenomenon where dropping water temperatures leave sea turtles hypothermic and helpless on shorelines. Mass Audubon and the New England Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital worked quickly to get survivors to safety.
Pancake ended up at the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society’s Sea Turtle Care Facility in Westhampton Beach, where months of careful rehabilitation followed. A diet of shrimp and clams. Gradual weight gain. Building strength in the water. And finally, the moment the care team had been working toward — strong swimming, healthy appetite, ready for release.
Six turtles, two releases
Pancake wasn’t the only one heading home this week.
Off the coast of Cape Cod, the New England Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital released five more Kemp’s ridley turtles — all rescued from cold-stunning events along the Massachusetts coast in early December. After seven months of treatment for pneumonia, dehydration, and trauma, all five were cleared for release.
In keeping with a beloved rehabilitation tradition, the five turtles were given names that fit a shared theme. This group was named after fonts: Times New Roman, Papyrus, Gigi, Walter Turncoat, and Punk Kid.
“Our team tracks each turtle’s progress closely and adjusts care as needed throughout recovery,” said Dr. Melissa Joblon, director of animal health at the New England Aquarium. “These five turtles are now strong enough to survive entirely on their own in the wild. That’s the goal. Every time.”
A reminder of what’s out there
For the crowd on Coney Island, signs in hand, chanting a sea turtle’s name into the summer air, Pancake’s release was more than a happy ending. It was a reminder that the ocean just beyond the shoreline is full of life worth protecting — and that the work of bringing an endangered animal back from the brink, one careful month at a time, is always worth it.