Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium staff released a subadult loggerhead sea turtle, nicknamed Chipi, back into the Gulf of Mexico off Casey Key earlier this week. Chipi stranded in October 2019 in Charlotte County; a citizen reported seeing the lethargic sea turtle from Boca Grande Pass. As is customary, Mote staff offered the citizen the chance to name the turtle, and he chose "Chipi," after his dog. Chipi showed lethargy and neurologic issues likely due to red tide exposure. You can read the turtle's full case report here. 

Though Mote Aquarium and other public-facing operations are temporarily closed to protect public health amid COVID-19, the organization's mission of marine science, education and animal rescue continues, and Mote's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital and many other programs continue working around the clock.