We wish you well, Princess Hailey!

We’re so happy to share that we’ll be releasing loggerhead sea turtle Princess Hailey back to the ocean on Monday, October 2 at 10 a.m. at James Nance Park,  201 N. Miramar Ave. in Indialantic!

This release is open to the public. Please note that this release will happen rain or shine.

Princess Hailey came to be a patient of our Sea Turtle Healing Center after being found floating and lethargic by boaters on July 1. When the boaters brought Hailey onboard, a large amount of water came from the sea turtle’s mouth. There were no external signs of why this turtle was sick, but a CT scan uncovered pneumonia.

The day after her rescue, bruising was seen around Princess Hailey’s neck and front flippers.

“With this information, we suspect they were entangled in fishing line and had difficulty picking their head up to breath and inhaling water, leaving them susceptible to pneumonia,” said Jess Patterson, Sea Turtle Healing Center coordinator.

Princess Hailey received antibiotics through a nebulizer daily for about a month, helping to clear the pneumonia. This sea turtle was one of our first few patients to use the Zoo’s new CT!

Princess Hailey was named in memory of the niece of one of our Healing Center volunteers who shared Princess’s fighting spirit.

This sea turtle was such a patient turtle throughout their rehabilitation journey with us! Our Healing Center staff and volunteers have adored Princess’s curious but kind of shy personality. Princess Hailey will be especially remembered for her excellent behavior during her nebulization treatment.

“It felt like she understood that the treatment was helping her feel better,” Jess said.

Have you found a sea turtle that needs help? Visit this page or call the Sea Turtle Preservation Society at 321-206-0646.

Want to help the Sea Turtle Healing Center? Support our Zoo, or view our Healing Center’s wishlist.