'Mason' And 'Eclipse' Among Young Turtles Returned To The Ocean

In January of this year, a large group of endangered sea turtles were rescued in the Boston area after being cold stunned near Cape Cod. The New England Aquarium had little room for the turtles and needed to find another place for eight of the most healthy turtles to recuperate. As it happened, there was an Eclipse Jet in Boston that weekend for the Eclipse Jet Experience. The South Carolina Aquarium approached Eclipse CEO Mason Holland to see if the six Kemp's Ridleys (the world's most endangered sea turtle species) and one hybrid sea turtle could hitch a ride south. Mr. Holland happily obliged their request.

Four months later, six of the eight rescued sea turtles were ready for release into the wild. They asked Mr. Holland if he wanted to assist in the release. As the SC Aquarium had named one of the turtles 'Mason' and another 'Eclipse,' he couldn't resist. 'Eclipse' is the first hybrid turtle that the South Carolina Aquarium's Sea Turtle Rescue Program has ever treated. DNA results indicate that s/he is a cross between a loggerhead and a green sea turtle.

"It was pretty fortuitous," Holland said. "A sea turtle rescue is a cool thing to be part of. Some people needed to get something done, and we were able to pitch in and help."

The lightweight Eclipse Jet is capable of cruising at more than 430 mph, but uses only about a fourth the fuel of a typical jet, so "it's as close to green as you can get with a jet," Holland said.

FMI: www.eclipse.aero