Minnesota Zoo welcomes new sea turtle ‘Snooki’ from New Jersey

A sea turtle who cannot be released due to an injury has found her “forever home” at the Minnesota Zoo.

Snooki the loggerhead sea turtle lives up to her namesake in many ways.

Rescued in 2016 by the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, Snooki was found stranded on the beaches of Cape May, New Jersey.

After transferring to the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (KBSTRRC) in North Carolina, Snooki soon won the hearts of visitors over with her big attitude, love for the spotlight and signature splash.

“Snooki is a big personality – our number one ‘adopted’ turtle and a bit of a diva,” KBSTRRC executive director Kathy Zagzebski said. “She’s been known to splash visitors on purpose, especially if a camera’s pointed her way.”

Courtesy: MN Zoo

However, her stay for rehabilitation would become a long one after it was discovered she would be unable to return to the wild. A spinal injury has left the 310-pound sea turtle positively buoyant, meaning she cannot dive or rest on the ocean floor.

So, through a collaborative effort between the Minnesota Zoo and the KBSTRRC, Snooki was flown privately to the Minnesota Zoo, landing in St. Paul on Monday before being delivered to the zoo.

“We are honored to welcome Snooki to the Minnesota Zoo family,” said Christoph Noetzli, Curator of Aquariums, Marine Mammals, and Life Support Systems at the Zoo. “She will be the largest sea turtle we’ve ever cared for – an impressive and charismatic ambassador for her species. Our team has decades of experience working with sea turtles that have buoyancy issues like hers, and we’re committed to providing her with a safe, stimulating environment where she can thrive.”

Snooki’s new home will be a 250,000-gallon habitat, estimated to be 50 times larger than her old pool, but visitors won’t be able to get a good glimpse of her right now.

The newest star of the zoo will remain in a smaller acclimation pool behind the scenes for several weeks to help her get used to her new environment.
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