On October 20, Riverbanks staff joined partners from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and South Carolina State Parks to release a juvenile green sea turtle named Huntington into an inlet leading to the ocean—near the same area where the turtle originally hatched.
Huntington’s release marks another achievement in the zoo’s long-running sea turtle conservation program, a collaboration among Riverbanks Zoo, SCDNR, South Carolina State Parks, and South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts (SCUTE). The effort protects vulnerable green sea turtle hatchlings by raising them to a sustainable size before returning them to the wild, improving their odds of survival and educating the public along the way.
“This program gives us the chance to educate the public about sea turtles and the impact that humans can have on their life,” said Kendra Bottini, aquarium curator at Riverbanks. “By assisting SCDNR and rearing these hatchlings, Riverbanks can increase the longevity of their life and ensure they reach adulthood.”
SCDNR biologist Meredith Bean added, “It’s a good opportunity for this animal to have started its life on a South Carolina beach, grown up educating people at Riverbanks Zoo, and then to be released back into the waterways where it hopefully can thrive.”
Riverbanks expects to receive a new green sea turtle hatchling in the coming month from the same nesting area that produced former residents Scute, Journey, and Destiny. The hatchling will be raised behind the scenes during the winter and make its public debut in spring 2026.
Transitioning the Pride: Lion Sisters Begin New Chapter
Riverbanks is also bidding farewell to lion sisters Thabisa and Lindelani, who have lived at the zoo since 2017 and departed on November 4 for another AZA-accredited organization. Over the past eight years, the pair has made significant contributions to the African Lion Species Survival Plan, each successfully raising cubs now living at accredited zoos across the country.
Their transfer supports a new conservation pairing intended to strengthen genetics and help ensure long-term species viability.
Looking forward, Riverbanks announced that two young male lions will arrive in early December from another AZA facility. The newcomers will serve as the foundation of a new pride that will eventually inhabit the zoo’s state-of-the-art lion habitat, part of the upcoming Bridge to the Wild campus expansion. Additional females are expected to join them in the future.
A New Face in the Aquarium: Meet Susan 2
As Huntington headed back to the sea, Riverbanks also welcomed a new aquatic resident. Susan 2, a young Giant Pacific Octopus, has taken up residence inside the Aquarium & Reptile Conservation Center. Located across from the moon jelly wall, she may be smaller than her predecessor—Susan—but she is already keeping visitors on their toes with her impressive camouflage skills.
