INLET BEACH — Carlos, Gourdon, and Kora slowly made their way across the sand and back into the Gulf on Thursday, marking the end of their rehabilitation journey and the beginning of a new chapter in the wild.
The release, organized by the Gulfarium C.A.R.E Center and supported by the St. Joe Community Foundation, celebrated the successful recovery of three sea turtles that had received medical care before being cleared for release.
Hundreds of families gathered along the rope line at Inlet Beach Regional Access to witness the event. As each turtle began its trek toward the water, cheers and applause rippled through the crowd. Children pointed excitedly toward the shoreline while parents captured the moment on their phones.
The joy on display was contagious. For a few minutes, the problems of everyday life seemed to fade away as everyone focused on one shared goal: watching Carlos, Gourdon, and Kora safely return home.
The release also served as a reminder of the importance of sea turtle conservation along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Since 2015, the Gulfarium C.A.R.E Center has rehabilitated and released more than 1,000 sea turtles, helping injured and sick animals return to their natural habitat.
Walton County’s beaches regularly host nesting loggerhead and green sea turtles, and four sea turtle species can be found along the county’s shoreline. Conservationists also note that only a small percentage of sea turtle hatchlings survive to adulthood in the wild, making rehabilitation efforts especially important.
“These releases are the result of a lot of work behind the scenes,” said Sarah Kamen, Stranding Coordinator at the Gulfarium CARE Center. “From rescue and transport to exams, treatment, and daily care, it takes many people working together to get turtles like Carlos, Gourdon, and Kora back to the Gulf.”
Many sea turtles admitted for treatment are suffering from injuries caused by fishing line entanglements, hook ingestion, boat strikes, or other human-related issues.
Through rehabilitation and public education, organizations like the Gulfarium C.A.R.E Center work to improve those odds.
As the three turtles disappeared beneath the waves on Thursday morning, the crowd lingered along the shoreline, watching the gulf a little longer. Thanks to the dedication of conservationists, volunteers, and wildlife rehabilitators, Carlos, Gourdon, and Kora are back where they belong: home in the beautiful Gulf waters of Walton County.
