After 8-Month Battle with Pneumonia, Critically Endangered Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Released by Texas State Aquarium
November 7, 2025
At the Texas State Aquarium’s Port Corpus Christi Center for Wildlife Rescue, every rescue story is different. Some animals recover quickly, while others take months of intensive care, but every single one is worth the fight. Each rescue story carries a purpose: recovery, rehabilitation and the chance to return to the wild. This is one such story. After eight months of around-the-clock treatment and countless expert hands, a critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle has begun a new chapter back in its natural habitat.
On August 28, 2025, the Texas State Aquarium’s Port Corpus Christi Center for Wildlife Rescue successfully released a rehabilitated juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, one of the most endangered sea turtle species in the world, at Padre Balli Park on North Padre Island following an extraordinary eight-month recovery.
The sea turtle, identified as Patient #529 for tracking and recordkeeping, stranded on December 27, 2024, in Boston, Massachusetts, after being found cold-stunned along the beaches of Cape Cod. It was one of 18 sea turtles transported to the Texas State Aquarium when rehabilitation centers in New England were at capacity.
Cold stunning, a life-threatening condition for cold-blooded reptiles, occurs when frigid water and air temperatures leave them lethargic and unable to swim, often leading to pneumonia, hypothermia, or injuries from rough surf. Upon arrival, this turtle was diagnosed with a severe case of pneumonia and faced a long road to recovery.
Over eight months, the Aquarium’s veterinary team provided intensive care to Patient #529, including multiple rounds of antibiotics, antifungal medications, and nebulization therapy. When these treatments proved ineffective, they performed a bronchiolar lavage, an advanced procedure to identify lung infections, and monitored progress with CT imaging. Thanks to this specialized care, scans showed clear and healthy lungs. Patient #529 was officially strong enough to return to its natural habitat.
The Kemp’s ridley is the world’s most endangered sea turtle, with populations still recovering after decades of decline. Every successful rescue and release reflects the Aquarium’s ongoing commitment to protecting these vulnerable animals. Including Patient #529’s release, the Wildlife Rescue team has returned 17 Kemp’s ridley sea turtles from this New England transport back to their natural habitat.
The Port Corpus Christi Center for Wildlife Rescue at the Texas State Aquarium is one of the largest coastal wildlife rescue facilities in the United States. In addition to caring for stranded or injured marine animals, the Aquarium works closely with state and federal partners to conserve and protect wildlife throughout the Texas Gulf.