Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration

See sand tiger and nurse sharks reaching up to six feet in length in Shark Lagoon, and watch Atlantic, Southern and cow-nosed rays glide by, as well as Charlotte the green sea turtle, in Stingray Bay.

Charlotte came from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, Ga., in November 2008. She was found stranded on Cumberland Island, Ga., and taken to the center in January 2008. Her shell and hind flippers were covered with barnacles, and she had been struck by a boat’s propeller. A CT scan and MRI revealed a fracture or break in her vertebrae and a compressed spinal cord, which partially paralyzed her intestinal tract and hind flippers. The paralysis prevents normal movement of her gastrointestinal tract, causing gas to accumulate, which makes it difficult for her to dive. As a result, she floats with her rear end up.

Though Charlotte has been deemed non-releasable, there is a chance that, with long-term rehabilitation, she could recover and possibly be released back into the ocean in future years. Until then, she is serving as an ambassador for her species, educating visitors on how they can help protect sea turtles.