Pregnant Loggerhead Turtle Declared Healthy After Rescue, Returned to Sea [VIDEO]

A 185 pound, pregnant loggerhead sea turtle rescued earlier this week in Florida has been released back into the ocean, according to a report from local Florida news station WPTV.

The pregnant turtle, called Emily, was found stuck between a jetty and some rocks near a beach close to the city of Palm Beach.

Firefighters assisted in the rescue by lifting the rock Emily was pinned under.

Though she was found to be bleeding internally, veterinarians gave the turtle an ultrasound and determined her eggs were still intact and viable. She was monitored at an animal clinic to ensure the internal bleeding stopped. 

Before returning her to the ocean Friday, officials at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach tagged Emily with monitoring devices.

It is not uncommon for turtles to become stuck this time of year as many make their way toward the beaches to dig nests and lay eggs. 

The Loggerhead Marinelife Center monitors a 10-mile stretch of beach in the area where Emily was rescued. The conservation group says that since May 1 it has recorded 40 leatherback nests and 28 loggerhead nests in the survey area. The count is low compared to last year's count of 92 leatherback nests and 68 loggerhead nests recorded during the same time period.  

Emily is expteded to lay her eggs Friday or Saturday, possibly on the same beach where she was resculed, according to a report by the Palm Beach Daily News. 

A photo gallery of Emily and her release is here.