**Updated 2/28/22 –

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of our lovely Kemp’s ridley sea turtle named Chloe. She passed earlier today inside the tranquil waters of the South Pacific Exhibit at the Aquarium Pyramid that has been her home for 16 years. Chloe is estimated to be in her early 30’s and came to Moody Gardens from the Houston Zoo. She was discovered as a stranded animal with an injury that was caused by a probable boat strike that left her back fins paralyzed and ineligible to be released back to the wild.
She will be greatly missed by the biologists and divers who have cared for her and by so many staff members as the loss of any animal here is considered a loss of family. We know that so many of our guests will also miss Chloe as she has brought joy to so many visitors who seek her out specifically while at the Aquarium Pyramid. We encourage you to help us in celebrating Chloe’s life by sharing your photos and memories in her honor. **

Surfs up dudes! Yes that’s right, this blog is in dedication of our lovely aquatic friend, the Sea Turtle. With the recent celebration of National Sea Turtle Day, World Ocean’s Day in June and the birthday of Mr. Archie Carr who was the founder of sea turtle conservation in the Caribbean. This serves as an opportunity to focus on the importance of these beautiful shelled creatures and their conservation as they are an endangered species. Below are some interesting facts that we’d like to share!

  • There are 7 species of Sea Turtles
  • Diet is highly variable across the species (in addition to age) and can include algae, jellyfish, seaweed, crabs, shrimp and sponges and is highly variable across the species in addition to age.
  • Sea Turtles nest in the same place that they were hatched. Their incubation period is about 6-8 weeks.
  • They spend their entire lives in the water except to lay eggs. After laying an average of 100 ping-pong ball sized eggs, female turtles cover the nest with sand and return to the sea.
  • Breeding season is March – October depending on the species
  • Sea turtles usually surface every 20 minutes to breathe.

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Visit Chloe: Our Rehab Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

Be sure to visit the Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid to catch a glimpse of Chloe, our Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle in the Aquarium Pyramid South Pacific exhibit. She was hit by a boat propeller which cracked her shell and paralyzed her rear flippers, rendering her unable to survive and reproduce in the wild, and therefore not qualified for release.  She was transferred from the Houston Zoo to Moody Gardens in a tank large enough for her to swim and live comfortably. She has lived at Moody Gardens for over nine years. The nature of her injury causes her rear end to float upward. She likes to nestle beneath the rocks and coral to sleep. Guests are often concerned that she is in peril, however she just prefers this position to rest. With 1.5 million gallons of water and more than 10,000 marine animals, the Aquarium Pyramid showcases the unique beauty of the North Pacific, South Pacific, South Atlantic and Caribbean regions.