Bearing names of Baltimore neighborhoods, nine sea turtles were returned to the ocean Thursday morning following rehabilitation at the National Aquarium. The National Aquarium Animal Rescue team were joined by several hundred observers as they gave the turtles their sendoff from the 40th Str eet beach access in Ocean City, Maryland. “We are always so happy to be able to share the release of successfully rehabilitated sea turtles with our community,” said Malia Hale, the National Aquarium’s animal rescue director, in a statement. “Public releases allow Aquarium members and friends to see the results of the rehab work that we undertake each year. It’s our hope that seeing the turtles up close inspires people to care for our ocean and the animals we share it with.”   Hamilton, one of the sea turtles rehabililtated by the National Aquarium, is released back to the wild in Ocean City, Maryland on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Photo courtesy National Aquarium. The nine turtles were nicknamed for Baltimore neighborhoods St. Paul, Fells Point, Glen, Mount Vernon, Hamilton, Cherry Hill, Little Italy, Lakeland and Brooklyn. They were among the 40 sea turtles that arrived at the National Aquarium after being rescued from the cooling waters off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, last December. The public helped name the turtles in honor of Baltimore neighborhoods during a naming contest last fall. Prior to the most recently released group, 29 sea turtles were released April 14 from Oak Island, North Carolina. One turtle passed away after arriving at the National Aquarium in the fall.  One turtle, named Patterson Park, is still receiving long-term care at the Aquarium’s off-exhibit rehabilitation pool. They are being treated for a recently detected mycobacterial infection, with treatment expected to take about three months. The 40 turtles were rescued after experiencing cold stunning, which occurred when water temperatures plunged in the late fall off the coast of Cape Cod. Assisted by a team of volunteers, Animal Rescue and Animal Health staff exam cold-stunned sea turtles as they arrive at the National Aquarium to start their rehabilitation journey on Dec. 3, 2025. Photo courtesy National Aquarium. Complications related to cold stunning can include respiratory difficulties, dehydration, malnutrition, injuries from predators or boat strikes, and various infections. As such, rescued turtles are triaged at organizations like the National Aquarium who participate in the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network. The colder-than-normal winter this season caused this group of rehabilitating turtles to stay at the National Aquarium longer than usual. National Aquarium staff assessed their recovery and growth before clearing them for release back to the ocean. The National Aquarium Animal Rescue program receives no dedicated federal funding for sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation. That’s why the organization supports a bipartisan bill called the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act, which would create more stable and sustainable funding for rehabilitation programs. Since 2023, the National Aquarium has maintained a year-round Stranding Response Center in Ocean City with local government support. The center serves as a base to rescue and triage seals and sea turtles that strand along the coast. Community members who see stranded animals should call the National Aquarium’s Animal Stranding Hotline at 410-576-3880 and maintain a safe distance from wildlife on beaches. ...read more read less