Meet Turtles at the Aquarium | SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium

Known to be direct descendants of dinosaurs, turtles are one of our biggest captivations, with some having been rescued and rehabilitated in this habitat. Learn everything about turtles, including their feeding habits and inability to draw their heads and legs into their shells, at our displays. Visit and meet our turtles, which include:

Ted, the Loggerhead sea turtle, was voted as Orlando's most-loved creature: Oh! - he will be featured on a Frontier Airlines plane
Chely, the green sea turtle who is a boat strike rescue and;
Terrapin turtles

Monty has come to live with us from his former home at Disney! He was deemed unreleasable due to a degenerative bone disease that makes it difficult for him to swim long distances and hunt for food. Because of this, Monty will never be able to be released back to the wild and will live in a facility for the rest of his life. That doesn't stop us from still thinking he's perfect!

Did you know the kemp's ridley sea turtle is both the rarest and most endangered species of sea turtle in the world? This is why it is so important to help preserve our oceans and the wildlife that lives in them and why ambassador animals like Monty are so important to help the public learn about these incredible species.

As a baby, Ted was one of the first turtles to test the Turtle Excluder Device (get it? T.E.D.!) which was developed to protect sea turtles from getting caught in fishing nets. Researchers tried to release Ted back to the wild several times, but he kept coming back to shore to visit his human friends! Ted has been with us at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium since 2016 and loves meeting all of the nice humans who come to our attraction!

Ted was voted Orlando's Most-Loved Animal (thanks to all of you!) and he has been featured on a Frontier Airlines plane! When Ted was notified of his big win, he made sure to prepare an acceptance speech to thank all of his supporters. Check out his plane reveal here!

Chely came to us after a boat strike caused a crack in his shell. Because of this crack, Chely has trouble with buoyancy, meaning it's hard for him to swim deep under the water. Luckily, Chely still loves to swim and works with our aquarists to practice diving deep in his tank to strengthen his muscles! His favorite snack is lettuce, so our aquarists put lettuce at the bottom of the tank to encourage him to stay deeper in the water.

Speaking of diving, did you know green sea turtles can hold their breath for up to five hours? Chely loves to show off just how long he can stay underwater before coming up for air!

In essence, terrapins are freshwater turtles endemic to brackish habitats. They are relatively small in size. Terrapins regularly swim but also spend time on land basking and burrowing in the mud.

Terrapins have a hard, slightly domed shell similar to that of tortoises and have legs instead of flippers, unlike sea turtles; they seem to be a mix of the turtle and tortoise. They are omnivorous, and their dietary preferences comprise algae, aquatic plants, small fish, insects, and crustaceans.

At SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, you will find the terrapins lying on the rocks soaking up the heat in their tanks any time you visit. Enjoy the charm of these magnificent animals and learn more about their anatomy and behavior.

Turtle Rehabilitation Center And Benson | SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium

Sea turtles worldwide are faced with unique dangers that have threatened them to near extinction, such as:

Entanglement in fishing gear and fishing boat incidents
Plastics and marine debris
Illegal consumption and predators
Global warming
Developments along their coastal habitat and nesting grounds

As a result, sea turtles list among the world's most endangered species, and awareness about the need to rescue them has been a topic of discussion globally. In an effort to ensure their conservation, the IUCN has itemized sea turtles at the top of its list of vulnerable and endangered species.

Efforts to rescue and enable the conservation of sea turtles is reinforced by reporting any sightings of stranded turtles. This work is mainly carried out by non-profit organizations, mandated government agencies, and dedicated marine biologists across the globe. These teams identify the causes of stranding, document apparent wounds, and move the injured or sick sea turtles to rehabilitation centers for care. Public education on the importance of sea turtle conservation is key to ensuring their survival.

Sea turtles are more vulnerable during winter when the temperatures drop, and most are stranded once washed ashore, either dead or alive. Winter exposes them to a phenomenon called cold stunning, which decreases their heart rate, causing them to become lethargic, leading to frostbite, pneumonia, or death.

When rescued, the stranded sea turtles are transported to listed rehabilitation facilities where they are observed, placed in dry tubs, treated, and in some instances later released back into the ocean once the weather becomes favourably warmer.

At SEA LIFE, we promote turtle rescue and conservation measures through various programs aimed at educating the public and raising awareness at our facility. At SEA LIFE we are dedicated to taking care of rescued sea turtles, whereby we release them back into the wild once they recover or they live with us if they’re deemed not fit to go back in the wild. If the sea turtles require life-long care, we keep them at our aquariums, and provide for their every need.

Visit a sea turtle exhibit near to learn more about how you can play a part in ensuring turtle rescue and conservation.

Conservation Cove | SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium

To protect the endangered sea turtle, you should choose to be a conscious seafood consumer by opting to buy sea food from suppliers who practice sustainable fishing methods. Other measures include raising awareness of the importance of catching seafood in ways that do not harm the turtles or their habitat.

On that conscious note, ensure:

You take part in coast and beach clean-ups aimed at reducing trash and plastics that are harmful to the sea turtles and their habitat
Engage in reducing marine debris
Remove beach equipment when you leave and fill in holes or sandcastles that may become obstacles in the sea turtles' habitats.

Whenever you come across a stranded sea turtle:

Keep your distance to avoid disturbing the turtle
Avoid flash photography or any other bright lights as it might discourage them from nesting
Warn others not to approach the turtle
Report to the nearest sea turtle rescue center as soon as possible

Harming or harassing the sea turtles is a federal crime, and it is up to everyone to rescue these endangered creatures to ensure their continued survival.

For more information, visit us with your family, and learn more about our conservation efforts, read more here.

It might take months or years, depending on the severity of injuries. However, once fully recovered, they are released when the weather is warmer or taken care of for the rest of their natural life.

Because they are an essential part of both marine and coastal ecosystems. They help uphold the health of seagrass beds and coral reefs. Sea turtles are essential in maintaining the balance in the marine food webs and facilitating nutrient cycling from water to land.

The temperature of the nest determines the sex of a sea turtle hatchling. Warmer temperatures result in a majority of females, while cooler temperatures result in a majority of males.