Sea turtle Willow released into the Atlantic after successful rehabilitation

A rehabilitated sea turtle was released into the Atlantic Ocean on a Florida beach.

Willow, a subadult loggerhead turtle, was released in the area behind the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, officials said.

“The best part of my job is coming to the beach here and seeing these very valuable animals returning to the population,” said Dr. Heather Barron, scientific director of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

Willow was brought to the center on June 25 after the Inwater Research Group found the injured sea turtle on nearby Jensen Beach. Veterinarians diagnosed Willow with weakened turtle syndrome, a disease that causes sea turtles to be malnourished, exhausted and encrusted with barnacles.

“So we gave her antibiotics, painkillers, iron and supplements and fixed her anemia,” Barron said. “And now she feels very lively.”