It was quite the heartfelt scene.
A nervous turtle made its way back to the waters of Coney Island, much to the delight of nearby children. This emotional moment came just months after the turtle nearly met a tragic fate due to the frigid temperatures.
Pancake, a Kemp Ridley Sea Turtle, crawled slowly towards the ocean as dozens of children cheered, pausing multiple times on the journey toward an uncertain, yet hopeful, future.
“Go Pancake! You can do it!” the kids shouted, waving handmade signs in support of their new friend.
This marked Pancake’s first encounter with the open water since November 22, when it was found, cold and incapacitated, on the icy shores of Cape Cod.
After suffering from hypothermia, Pancake was brought to the New England Aquarium for care, avoiding what could have been a fatal situation.
The 11-pound turtle was estimated to be between 2 and 5 years old, making it a juvenile considering its potential 50-year lifespan.
While its gender remains unidentified—blood tests are needed for that—it isn’t a priority during its recovery.
After 10 stable days at the aquarium, Pancake joined 24 other Kemp Ridley turtles on a trip to the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) in Westhampton Beach. This journey was made possible with help from the Wildlife Conservation Society and other nonprofits.
These turtles, named after breakfast items like fritters and mimosas, underwent weeks of treatment for their hypothermia so they could build strength and learn to hunt for shrimp and clams independently.
The survival of these turtles is crucial for their species, which was classified as endangered back in 1970 due to habitat loss, egg overharvesting, and accidental drownings.
Current estimates suggest there may be up to 9,000 adult females nesting worldwide, although numbers can vary significantly year to year.
“Eleven pounds of Pancake might sound like a lot, maybe even too much, but it serves as a reminder of the natural threats these animals face,” noted Rob DiGiovanni, founder and principal scientist at AMSEAS. “Human activity, whether through debris or vessels, plays a considerable role in their challenges.”
A satellite tracking device was attached to Pancake’s shell to monitor its movements. This $3,500 GPS will function for approximately six months, allowing researchers to track its location every five minutes.
Pancake is now free to swim potentially hundreds of miles, a species known for migrating as far north as Nova Scotia and south to Bermuda.
Still, sea turtles might decide to spend their summers near Coney Island.
“Having turtles like Pancake visible in New York City is a fantastic way to engage people in wildlife conservation,” remarked Lee Clayton, director of the New York Aquarium. “These animals are part of our ocean, which is vibrant and alive in New York, and everyone can play a role in its preservation.”
Pancake’s release marks the second time a Kemp Ridley sea turtle has returned to Coney Island, following Elton’s release last year, and is among 125 sea turtles that have been part of the AMSEAS sanctuary since 2020.
