We love a good comeback, and this one features a critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle named Bear who beat some seriously tough odds.
Found stranded on an Australian beach in December 2025 in grave condition, Bear spent months in intensive rehabilitation before being released back into the ocean off Port Stephens, Australia, in March 2026.
Bear was discovered stranded on a beach in December 2025 and brought to Mudgeroo Wombat & Wildlife Refuge, a family-run rehabilitation sanctuary sitting on 70 acres of natural bushland in Jervis Bay, on the Shoalhaven Coast of New South Wales. The refuge, licensed under Wildlife Rescue South Coast Inc. (WRSC Inc), had taken in multiple stranded sea turtles around the same time, and the situation was devastating. Two of those turtles were critically unwell and did not survive. Bear’s own condition was equally dire.
Mudgeroo wrote via Facebook on December 2, 2025: “We still have one, ‘Bear’ the Hawksbill under Veterinary care as he is gravely unwell too.”
The refuge noted that a sea turtle “found stranded is most likely critically unwell and needs experienced care and for Veterinary assessment as soon as possible.”
Inside Bear the Hawksbill Turtle’s Months-Long Recovery at Mudgeroo Refuge
Sea turtle rehabilitation takes serious patience, and Bear the hawksbill sea turtle’s recovery at Mudgeroo Wombat & Wildlife Refuge on the Shoalhaven Coast of New South Wales proved that in full. The initial stabilization phase alone required several weeks, and the team at the family-run sanctuary watched Bear closely for any gradual changes in health through the early months of 2026. After weeks under veterinary supervision, small signs of progress finally started adding up. By March 11, 2026, Mudgeroo shared a cautiously hopeful update.
“Since being discovered stranded in December, Bear has shown steady progress, albeit slowly, which is common in sea turtle rehabilitation. The initial stabilization phase requires several weeks, after which gradual changes help us monitor the pattern of physical recovery,” the refuge wrote via Facebook.
Bear’s increase in body weight was “particularly encouraging, indicating improved overall health,” with a veterinary assessment and blood analysis forthcoming. Bear’s prospects for release were “looking increasingly promising.”
Bear the Hawksbill Sea Turtle Was Released Into the Ocean at Port Stephens
The moment fans of Bear the hawksbill sea turtle had been waiting for arrived just 10 days after that encouraging health update. On March 21, 2026, Bear was transported from Mudgeroo Wombat & Wildlife Refuge to Port Stephens for release back into the ocean. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) advised the specific location, choosing a spot meant to give Bear the best possible start heading north. The release was a team effort months in the making.
Mudgeroo explained: “NPWS told me the southern most region of their range will give Bear a head start on her journey north.”
“The Hawksbill sea turtle is a critically endangered species, so her journey back to begin her reproductive life is so exciting & important to their species,” they continued.
The Bermagui Veterinary Clinic posted video of the release on March 22, 2026, via Facebook, writing, “Every single Hawksbill Sea Turtle is precious. We must protect them from extinction.”
Why Hawksbill Sea Turtles Like Bear Face Extinction Threats Worldwide
Hawksbill sea turtles are listed as critically endangered under the Endangered Species Act. They’re found mainly throughout the world’s tropical oceans, predominantly in coral reefs, where they help maintain the health of coral reefs and seagrass beds. Their overlapping scales form a serrated look on their shell edges, and those beautiful patterned shells make them highly valuable and commonly sold as “tortoiseshell” in markets, per World Wildlife Fund. That beauty has cost them dearly.
“In many parts of the world, hawksbills face the unique threat of being hunted for their beautiful shell, also known as ‘tortoise shell,’ which is used by craftspeople to create many types of jewelry and trinkets,” per NOAA Fisheries. “The historical hunting and killing of hawksbills for their shell nearly drove the species to extinction.”
