South Carolina Aquarium Admits Smallest Sea Turtle Patient in Aquarium History

The South Carolina Aquarium admitted the smallest sea turtle patient in aquarium history. Sometimes, big surprises come in really small packages.

A fisherman spotted a juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtle — now named Chia — entangled and floating atop a pile of marine debris just a few miles offshore. Chia was swiftly admitted to the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Care Center™. Upon arrival, Chia earned a record-holding title: the smallest sea turtle patient ever admitted in Aquarium history. Weighing less than 1.5 pounds upon admit, Chia was the equivalent of 1.5 loaves of bread, a small pumpkin or a mere 48 tablespoons of chia seeds.