Multiple organizations collaborate to protect endangered species and preserve marine life
San Diego, California – The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue
Society (VAMMR), SeaWorld San Diego Rescue and Turtles Fly Too worked together recently to
transfer rescued loggerhead sea turtle, Moira. Found cold stunned in British Columbia, Moira
was transported to the warm waters of San Diego where she has now been returned to the
wild. Since her rescue in February 2024, VAMMR and the Vancouver Aquarium have been
working tirelessly to bring Moira back to health.
Moira was rescued on February 4 in Pedder Bay, British Columbia. The VAMMR team stabilized
the severely hypothermic sea turtle whose core temperature was only 8 degrees Celsius (46.4
degrees Fahrenheit) when she was admitted. Moira is estimated to be 15 to 20 years old. At the
time of her rescue, she was the second reported sighting of a loggerhead sea turtle in British
Columbia. Loggerhead turtles are typically found in tropical and subtropical regions of the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The rescue would not have been possible without permission from
Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Local marine biologist Dr. Anna Hall was first to respond to this
rescue. VAMMR is the only facility in Western Canada that can provide the unique care that this
animal required. Moira has been fitted with a satellite tracker, allowing her care team to follow
her journey and monitor her movements.
“This has been a remarkable story for Moira. I am very proud of the vital role that VAMMR and
Vancouver Aquarium staff have played in getting her ready to be released by SeaWorld and
Turtles Fly Too,” said VAMMR Executive Director Dr. Martin Haulena.
Upon her arrival to SeaWorld San Diego, the veterinary and rescue teams assessed Moira’s
readiness for return, utilizing their extensive knowledge in the care of loggerhead turtles. Moira
acclimated well to her new environment, swimming beautifully in larger, deeper pools. Her
impressive diving abilities during the evaluation along with a healthy blood sample
demonstrated that she was fully prepared to return to her natural habitat in the ocean this
week.
The effort to transport a single sea turtle took the efforts of multiple organizations because it is
crucial to return her to the wild, especially given the endangered status of loggerhead turtles in
the North Pacific. With their population dwindling, each turtle—particularly females, who are
essential to the species’ reproductive capacity—plays a vital role in their survival. Protecting
these turtles is not only about saving an individual but also about preserving marine life and
maintaining the health of the broader marine ecosystem.
“Moira’s journey showcases the collaborative efforts of our rescue team at SeaWorld, alongside
partners from the Vancouver Aquarium, the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue
Society and Turtles Fly Too,” said Jeni Smith, Curator of Rescue at SeaWorld San Diego. “This
case stands out for its multi-agency approach, with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and international customs all playing crucial
roles in ensuring her safe transfer. Preparing for her return to the wild is a testament to the
hard work and commitment of everyone involved in her rescue, rehabilitation and return.”
The president of Turtles Fly Too (TF2), Leslie Weinstein, also acknowledged the successful
cooperation among all organizations involved with the transport, saying, “Our efforts to rescue
even one sea turtle like Moira underscores the essential role of TF2’s medevac flights in
protecting endangered marine wildlife. This successful loggerhead airlift shows how
coordinated medevac flights can truly make a difference. When organizations unite in
conservation we’re not just saving an individual—we’re committing to biodiversity and
contributing to the survival of a species.”