3-Limbed Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Tracked by Satellite After Release

Veterinary staff at Florida sea turtle hospital collaborate with Smithsonian to monitor amputee turtles in the wild.

Mar. 26, 2026 at 9:18am

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A Kemp's ridley sea turtle named Amelie, who lost her right forelimb to a likely shark attack, was released back into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida after undergoing treatment and rehabilitation at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center. The veterinary staff glued a satellite tracking device to Amelie's shell so they can monitor her movements and survival in the wild, as part of a collaboration with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute to study how well sea turtles can adapt after losing a limb.

Why it matters

Kemp's ridley turtles are the rarest species of sea turtle, so tracking Amelie's recovery and ability to thrive in the ocean after her amputation provides valuable data to researchers. The satellite tracking also allows the Loggerhead Marinelife Center to continue monitoring the progress of other amputee sea turtles they have rehabilitated and released.

The details

Amelie was rescued by the Inwater Research Group seven weeks earlier and brought to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, where she underwent surgery to clean and close the wound from her amputated limb and was treated for pneumonia. After veterinarians deemed her healthy enough, she was released back into the Atlantic with a satellite tracking device glued to her shell. An ultrasound also confirmed that Amelie is developing eggs, giving researchers another reason to track her movements.

  • Amelie was rescued and brought to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center seven weeks earlier.
  • Amelie was released back into the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday.

The players

Loggerhead Marinelife Center

A Florida sea turtle hospital that is collaborating with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute to study how well sea turtles can adapt after losing a limb.

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

An organization that is collaborating with the Loggerhead Marinelife Center on a project to monitor amputee sea turtles released back into the wild.

Amelie

A Kemp's ridley sea turtle who lost her right forelimb to a likely shark attack and was rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the Atlantic Ocean by the Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

Inwater Research Group

The organization that rescued Amelie and brought her to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center for treatment.

Sarah Hirsch

The research director at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

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What they’re saying

“We do know that they can be successful in the wild because we have seen them on our nesting beaches, but we really want to understand their dive behaviors, how they're migrating once they're back in the wild.”

— Sarah Hirsch, Research Director, Loggerhead Marinelife Center

What’s next

The Loggerhead Marinelife Center and Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute will continue to monitor Amelie and other amputee sea turtles they have released, tracking their movements and behaviors to better understand how well these turtles can adapt and thrive in the wild after losing a limb.

The takeaway

The satellite tracking of Amelie and other rehabilitated sea turtles with amputated limbs provides valuable data to researchers on the resilience and survival capabilities of endangered species like the Kemp's ridley turtle, which can help inform future conservation efforts.