Two loggerhead turtles released by Friends of Macarthur Beach State Park, Angari Foundation and the Florida Park Service

North Palm Beach, FL – Two juvenile female loggerhead turtles were released into the ocean Tuesday by the Friends of John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, the ANGARI Foundation and the Florida Park Service.

One-year-old Veronica and ten-month-old Freed have been cared for by a dedicated team of staff at MacArthur Beach State Park since they were three months old. The turtles are part of MacArthur Beach State Park's Sea Turtle Ambassadors educational program, which educates visitors about the importance of sea turtle conservation. The state park receives over 150,000 visitors annually, and over 4,000 of those visitors are students participating in sea turtle-focused educational programs.

“During their time at MacArthur Beach State Park, our Sea Turtle Ambassadors have educated thousands of visitors about sea turtles and conservation,” said Veronica Frehm, CEO of Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park. “It's these personal interactions that can spark people's interest and help them make a lifelong commitment to sea turtle conservation. We look forward to having a new Sea Turtle Ambassador in the coming months.”

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is the only state park in Florida that can accommodate sea turtles.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) granted the park a sea turtle housing permit to house two loggerhead turtle hatchlings for educational purposes. The park receives its turtles from Dr. Jeanette Wyneken's laboratory at Florida Atlantic University's (FAU) Research Gallery, located in the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. Her study focuses on the effects of weather and climate on sea turtle eggs and the associated consequences.

Park staff receive regular consultations from FWC, sea turtle researchers and sea turtle veterinarians to ensure the turtles are healthy and receiving the best care possible. Before their release, both turtles received a final veterinary examination and were declared healthy by the FWC team.

The sea turtles were released off the coast of West Palm Beach from the ANGARI Foundation's 65-foot research vessel, R/V. ANGARIWhile the ANGARI Foundation has supported sea turtle research aboard its vessel in the past, this is the first release of sea turtles from R/V ANGARI.

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, the only state park in Palm Beach County, is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Worth Lagoon. The park consists of 436 acres of pristine coastal land and includes four distinct communities or habitats, including seven plant species and 22 animal species that are on the endangered or threatened species list. For more information about MacArthur Beach State Park, visit macarthurbeach.org.

The ANGARI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation established in 2016 and headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Foundation's mission is to create a global community interested in, knowledgeable about, and invested in marine and environmental science by directly supporting research initiatives that promote greater trust and dialogue between scientists and the public. The ANGARI Foundation uses innovative technologies, films, and other media to raise awareness and strengthen science education. Many of the Foundation's key initiatives involve R/V ANGARIa 65-foot vessel that serves as an extraordinary research and education platform. For more information, visit angari.org.