Timmy the 270-pound loggerhead sea turtle was found “splashing erratically” in late July off the coast of the Florida Keys. Boaters spotted her in distress and called in the Coast Guard to help.
Once rescuers hoisted her up, she was taken to The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida, where she was given the name “Timmy” and found to be an astonishing 70-80 years old.
“She’s now undergoing a full diagnostic workup at the Turtle Hospital,” the rehabilitation center reported when they introduced Timmy to the world on social media.
“We’ll be running a complete blood chemistry evaluation once her samples are processed by the university lab, which will help us better understand what she’s facing. Right now, we’re still searching for answers. For now, our team is monitoring her closely and providing supportive care every step of the way.”
After a full blood panel and a myriad of X-rays and other testing, rescuers still weren’t sure what caused her distress. And once she was able to rest in a shallow pool, she began behaving normally and eating voraciously.
She also began swimming more regularly.
Team members at The Turtle Hospital gave her some “spa treatments” and made sure she had a clean bill of health, and in less than a month, she was cleared to return to the ocean.
“We honestly may never know exactly what caused Timmy’s erratic behavior,” the rehab center shared in a social media comment about Timmy’s release.
“There are several possibilities, including mating activity or possibly being brushed by a boat, but we can’t say for certain. The important thing is that her blood work looks fantastic, she’s eating well, and she’s looking great in our tidal pool!”
The massive, elderly turtle gained a fan following during her time at The Turtle Hospital, and the crew invited members of the public to cheer on her release.
“A true ocean matriarch is heading back to her wild kingdom! After a full recovery at The Turtle Hospital, Timmy is officially ready to return to the sea! This 70–80-year-old, 270-pound loggerhead has already nested three times this season and has many more miles left to swim.”
On the morning of Friday, August 14, a crowd gathered at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park in Key West to cheer Timmy on.
The turtle made a short journey by car from Marathon to Key West, held in a large black transport bin that required multiple people to lift.
The Turtle Hospital went live on Facebook during her release, where the turtle joyfully flapped her flippers in the tub as experts prepared to set her free. A crowd looked on, and the Coast Guard crew that rescued Timmy also came to see her off.
“She’s a big girl, and we’ve got a big crowd out here to support Timmy,” a narrator of the video described. “Timmy is a mama sea turtle. She was actually tagged prior to coming to our hospital, and she laid three nests this year. We’re excited to get mama turtle back out there!”
As a whole team tilted Timmy’s transport bin into the ocean, she was eager to hit the sand, quickly pulling herself into the water.
And then she touched the water, to cheers of “Go Timmy go!” and “Keep your head up, honey!” from onlookers, and another successful rescue was in the books.
“Release days are the best days,” Bette Zirkelbach, The Turtle Hospital’s general manager, shared on her own Instagram page. “It has been an honor to share space with this matriarch of our oceans. Just keep swimming, Timmy.”
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Featured Image: Screenshots via The Turtle Hospital/Facebook
