A 60-year-old sea turtle named Jorge returns to the ocean after 41 years in captivity

After 41 years in captivity, Jorge the loggerhead turtle returns to the ocean in a groundbreaking rehabilitation success story tracked via satellite.

For over four decades, Jorge the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) knew only glass walls and tiled floors. At more than 220 pounds (100 kg) and approximately 60 years old, Jorge had been confined to a 1,320-gallon tank (5,000 liters) in an aquarium in Mendoza, Argentina—hundreds of miles from the nearest coastline.

His captivity began in 1984, after becoming entangled in a fishing net off the coast of Argentina. Back then, the common fate for sea turtles was often bleak. Conservation wasn’t a buzzword yet. Jorge, instead of being released, was transported inland to Mendoza, where he would spend most of his life in an environment entirely alien to his species.

In that tank, he was fed a routine diet of hard-boiled eggs and boiled meat, a far cry from the vibrant, messy chaos of ocean life. It seemed unlikely he would ever see the sea again, much less survive in it.

A petition, a lawsuit, and a second chance

But the tide began to turn in 2021, when over 60,000 people signed a petition calling for Jorge’s release. The campaign was accompanied by a legal initiative and caught the attention of several Argentine scientific institutions.

From that moment, Jorge’s story became a national case study in rehabilitation, and a symbol of what determined conservation efforts could achieve. It wasn’t just a matter of opening a gate and pointing him toward the water. Jorge had spent 41 years without hunting, navigating currents, or dodging predators. He had to relearn everything.

Three years to awaken instincts long buried

The rehabilitation was meticulous. Over three years, Jorge was gradually introduced to live food, including crabs and sea snails. He had to compete for meals, build makeshift shelters, and navigate artificial currents designed to simulate the real ocean.

The goal wasn’t to make life easy—it was to force his instincts to reawaken. And slowly, they did.

On April 11, 2025, Jorge was taken to the Atlantic coast. Escorted by a team of biologists and the Argentine Coast Guard, he was carried 15 nautical miles (about 17 miles or 28 km) offshore and finally released into the wild. Equipped with a satellite transmitter, he began his long journey north toward Praia do Forte, Brazil.

The long swim home

So far, Jorge has traveled more than 1,680 miles (2,700 kilometers). Each day, he sends back signals, allowing scientists to monitor his progress. He is in good health, moving consistently, and has successfully navigated beyond the most critical phases of reintroduction.

There’s hope not just for his survival—but also for the future of his species. Jorge is still fertile, and if his instincts guide him true, he might one day contribute to the loggerhead population in the wild.

A living miracle of marine conservation

For researchers, Jorge is a one-of-a-kind case. No other sea turtle in recorded history has returned so successfully to the wild after spending so many years in captivity.

His story is more than just a scientific success—it’s a miracle in motion. Jorge has become a symbol, not only of what we owe the natural world, but of what’s still possible when we fight to reverse the damage we’ve done.

“Jorge reminds us that the ocean never forgets its children,” said one of the marine biologists involved. And now, after 41 years of silence, Jorge is finally swimming free, sending signals back to land—and maybe, just maybe, reminding us all to listen.