CONEY ISLAND, Brooklyn (PIX11) — A young sea turtle named Elton made a swift and inspiring return to the wild waters off Coney Island Wednesday, marking an encouraging moment for sea turtle conservation efforts.
The endangered Kemp’s ridley turtle was found cold-stunned on a Massachusetts beach in December 2024 and has since undergone rehabilitation thanks to dedicated partnerships and community support.
Coney Island, NY, Aug. 6, 2025—New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton joined the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS), elected officials, and environmental leaders to release a rehabilitated Kemp’s ridley sea turtle back into the Atlantic Ocean outside the New York Aquarium. The event celebrated the New York State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) that helps protect and restore the health of the state’s ocean and coasts.
Elton, an endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, was the star of the show on Coney Island Beach on Aug. 6, as he was released into the Atlantic Ocean after a monthslong rehabilitation.
