🌀🐢 We share this powerful moment from nature: a leatherback sea turtle hatchling (Dermochelys coriacea) taking its very first steps on the beach. 🌊 In the video, the hatchling briefly pauses within the circular tracks it created in the sand. This behavior is not random—it is part of a natural initial orientation process, allowing the hatchling to adjust its position before beginning its determined journey toward the ocean. During these first moments, the hatchling relies on visual cues, such

Three new manatee rehabilitation patients were welcomed to Mote’s Sea Turtle and Manatee Rehabilitation Hospital! Mote is responding to a recent cold weather event affecting multiple marine species across Florida, rescuing three young, cold-stressed Florida manatees and receiving 25 cold-stunned green sea turtles transferred from Florida’s east coast. The animals are receiving specialized care and ongoing monitoring by expert Mote staff as part of their rehabilitation process. Cold stressing and