The Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea will release Hope the Sea Turtle into the Gulf of Mexico this afternoon

The Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea will release Hope the Sea Turtle into the Gulf of Mexico this afternoon.

Hope was brought to the Marine Lab last October during a red tide event that affected much of Franklin County's waters.

The150-pound loggerhead sea turtle found it hard to breathe, impossible to swim, and became paralyzed by red tide neurotoxins before washing ashore on St. George Island. .

She was found by beachgoers who alerted the Franklin County Sheriff's department.

Hope was then loaded on to a truck and taken to the Marine Lab for rehabilitation.

She is now well enough to return to the Gulf of Mexico, and she will be released this afternoon at 3 PM from the public beach on St. George Island.

The public is invited to attend the release and take pictures and video.

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