The Virginia Aquarium

Kermit, during rehab at the Virginia Aquarium

VIRGINIA BEACH (AP) -- After a long and intensive recovery, a green sea turtle dubbed Kermit is ready to go back to the wild.

Slideshow: Kermit at the Va. Aquarium

The turtle was rescued by a swimmer near Sandbridge on September 20. Kermit was floating upside down and had bits of trash lodged in his esophagus, which included a rubber band, a balloon, pieces of plastic and bits of a Spanish language newspaper.

Now, the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team plans to release Kermit on Sunday, near the point where he was rescued.

Mark Swingle, the aquarium's director of research and conservation, says Kermit's predicament illustrates the need to prevent garbage from ending up in the ocean.

“His recovery has been long and intensive,” said Aquarium Stranding Technician Linda D’Eri. “Kermit’s esophagus was so damaged that he had limited ability to swallow food. So we had to feed him small amounts of food more frequently until he regained this control.”  

You can watch Kermit’s sendoff from the beach near Sandbridge Market at 2:00 p.m. on June 22.

To report a dead or live stranded marine mammal or sea turtle call the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program 24-hour hotline at (757) 437-6159.

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