Florida Aquarium sea turtle rehab center features ‘foraging pool’ in Apollo Beach

Florida Aquarium uses pool to help turtles heal

FOX 13 photojournalist Barry Wong introduces us to the 11-foot-deep ‘foraging pool’ at its Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Apollo Beach.

When the center in Apollo Beach receives an injured or sick sea turtle that has challenges swimming, caretakers can place the turtle into a two-week deep-dive behavioral assessment. Those challenges can come from a damaged or missing flipper. Front flippers are used for propulsion, while rears are used as rudders.

“What we’re trying to figure out is can this turtle be a turtle and do it successfully out in the wild,” Florida Aquarium Sea Turtle Conservation Director Ashley Riese said. “Not only are we assessing if they can get down to the deeper water, but we’re actually looking at their behaviors and how they are moving and using that water column.”

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