Miami, Sep 9 (IANS/EFE) The US Coast Guard and Gumbo Limbo Nature Center personnel released 505 sea turtle hatchlings in the Atlantic off Boca Raton, Florida, after keeping them in captivity to ensure their survival, officials said.
The nature centre, which works to protect sea turtles, requested assistance in doing the large release, the Coast Guard said in a statement Sunday.
The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center cared for the eggs until the hatchlings could be released in the Atlantic last week.
The 311 loggerheads and 194 green sea turtles were released on the seaweed beds off Boca Raton where they would have a higher chance of survival.
Loggerhead sea turtles are listed as threatened species, while green sea turtles are classified as endangered species.
The world's oceans are home to seven species of sea turtles, all of which are endangered due to human activity.
--IANS/EFE
sud/ab/vt
