After making a visit to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon in March, Kincaid the loggerhead sea turtle was released back into the wild on Sunday.
Kincaid's journey is somewhat unique. Most of the time the staff at the Turtle Hospital make house calls, rescuing sick turtles in the waters surrounding the Keys wherever they are found and bringing them back to the facility for rehab.
Kincaid took matters into his own hands. Staffers at the facility found the sick turtle in the waters just outside the marina on the gulf side of Marathon, perhaps trying to check himself in for a visit.
The sick turtle spent several months getting antibiotics, fluids and squid meals before becoming healthy enough to be released on Sunday. He gained more than 10 pounds during his stay at the facility.
On hand to document the event was a crew from Fox News, which broadcast the event on its morning news show Fox Friends. The turtle was released on the shores of Veteran's Park on Little Duck Key.
More than 50 people attended the event, which drew its share of curious onlookers. With cameras in hand, dozens lined the carved out waterway that Kincaid was released into from the beach. After getting about 100 yards out to sea, the crowd let out a cheer when he popped his head up for a breath of air.
More information about the Turtle Hospital can be found online at www.turtlehospital.org.
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