On Sept. 11, the Florida Keys community celebrated as Hope, a 150-pound adult female loggerhead sea turtle, swam back into her ocean home from Sombrero Beach in Marathon. Local first responders joined the public release.
Returning Hope to the wild on 9/11 served as a reminder that healing is possible after devastating loss and that strength can emerge from deep trials.
Turtle Hospital general manager Bette Zirkelbach described Hope as “a story of resilience, second chances, and the unbreakable spirit of survival.”
Hope was rescued in early June after being found entangled in an anchor line. The line had wrapped tightly around her front flipper, causing critical trauma that required emergency veterinary surgery and amputation to save her life.
Following the procedure, Hope faced a difficult road to recovery. She initially refused to eat as she adjusted to her injury. Through specialized care, fluid treatments and dedicated rehabilitation at the Turtle Hospital, she fought her way back to health, showing an unyielding spirit of survival.
“Hope lost her front flipper to the anchor line entanglement. But we have seen successful rehabilitations with turtles. They go out and live their life with three flippers. She’s swimming strong. She’s able to chase her prey and eat lobster,” Zirkelbach said.
Surrounded by cheers, Hope returned to the Atlantic Ocean. The release was dedicated to first responders in gratitude for their daily bravery and for helping the community through its darkest hours and hardest times.
“Today on 9/11, we want to honor all those lost on 9/11, but also our first responders,” Zirkelbach said. “We had some local first responders here today, but we are eternally grateful. We will never forget.”
Located in Marathon, the Turtle Hospital is the world’s first veterinary hospital dedicated solely to the rehabilitation of sea turtles. More information is at turtlehospital.org.
