Marrissa And Bentley Returned Home

Supplied by Libby Edge.  

‍

The community gathered at Cannonvale Beach on Sunday morning to watch Marissa and Bentley, two rehabilitated juvenile green sea turtles, return to the ocean.

‍

The pair were found malnourished and covered in algae and barnacles before being taken to the Whitsunday Turtle Rescue Centre in July. After weeks of care and rehabilitation, they were declared healthy and ready to return to Whitsunday waters.

‍

Carried down to the shoreline by their carers, Marissa and Bentley were met with cheers from the crowd as they made their way across the sand and disappeared beneath the waves.

‍

“To see more than 250 people come together to celebrate Marissa and Bentley’s return to the ocean was absolutely heartwarming,” said Founder of Eco Barge Clean Seas Libby Edge.

‍

“We were overwhelmed and incredibly grateful for the turnout, which was much larger than anticipated.

‍

“I also want to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to our incredible turtle carers. They have each volunteered so many hours this year to provide our turtles with the daily food, treatment, cleaning and specialised care they need.

‍

‍

“Our carers work tirelessly behind the scenes, and Marissa and Bentley’s return to the wild would not have been possible without their dedication and compassion.”

‍

Eco Barge Clean Seas currently has another five sea turtles receiving treatment and rehabilitation at the Whitsunday Turtle Rescue Centre.  

‍