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World Sea Turtle Day: Meet Bandit, the Sea Turtle with a Comeback Story You Have to "SEA" to Believe
At Ripley’s Aquariums, we believe that the most unforgettable stories come from the most unlikely heroes. And on World Sea Turtle Day, we’re celebrating one of our very own: Bandit, the green sea turtle who’s turning heads—and stealing hearts.
From Stranded to Star
Back in April 2021, Bandit was found stranded on Little St. Simons Island, Georgia. But she wasn’t your average sea turtle rescue. When she arrived at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, she weighed a whopping 60 pounds—nearly ten times the size of a typical green sea turtle patient. She was already a big deal.
But size wasn’t the only thing that made Bandit stand out. She had survived a traumatic boat propeller strike that left her with partial paralysis and serious buoyancy issues. Bandit was in rough shape, but this sea turtle is nothing if not tough.
A Little Help Goes a Long Way
Once stabilized, Bandit needed a forever home where she could continue to thrive. That’s where Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach came in.
And thanks to Turtles Fly Too, Bandit made her journey in true turtle VIP fashion-by plane!
To help her swim comfortably, Bandit now wears a small, custom weight pouch on her shell-kind of like a sea turtle backpack! This innovative tool helps correct her buoyancy, allowing her to glide gracefully through her new environment at the Ripley’s Marine Science Research Center.
An Unlikely Friendship
Bandit’s story has touched hearts far and wide-including that of Kendall Barfield, a young girl from Georgia living with spina bifida. Kendall symbolically adopted Bandit during her rehab and finally got to meet her finned friend in person at Ripley’s.
Watching Bandit swim confidently in her new home, Kendall smiled and said, “I feel like she’s getting bigger!”
Come Meet Bandit
Bandit is a green sea turtle, a species considered critically endangered due to habitat loss and climate change. At Ripley’s Aquariums, we’re committed to protecting species like Bandit through hands-on care, cutting-edge research, and unforgettable guest experiences that inspire ocean conservation.
Want to see Bandit in action? Guests can now visit her at the Marine Science Research Center at Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach. With an advanced reservation, you can even go behind the scenes with our animal care experts to learn more about sea turtle rehabilitation, sustainable science, and the creatures we work to protect every day.
On World Sea Turtle Day, we’re proud to share Bandit’s story-one of resilience, innovation, and hope. She may have had a rough start, but today, she’s living proof that with the right care (and a little turtle-sized backpack), anything is possible!
Visit a Ripley's Aquarium today and be inspired by the wonder of the sea!
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From Globe, For Globe - Pulse of the Planet
How did this classic cake earn its name? Did it cost a pound to make back in 1747?
Ah, pound cake. A staple at picnics and family gatherings, this cake is as tasty as it is simple. Every seasoned baker has a pound cake recipe etched into their memory, as this dessert only requires the most basic of ingredients: flour, eggs, sugar, butter, and salt. Sure, there have been some variants over time, but the standard recipe for pound cake has not changed since it was created in 1747!
Tastiness aside, how did this classic cake earn its name? Did it cost a pound to make back in 1747? Did the final baked treat weigh a full pound? Nope, the name’s true origin is a bit more simple and calorie-packed.
The Origins
According to the first known recipe for the pound cake in Hannah Glasse’s The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy, the cake required exactly one pound of the aforementioned ingredients: one pound of flour, one pound of eggs, one pound of sugar, and one pound of butter and salt.
Why Simplicity is Key
If you think about the context of the 18th century, though, the recipe made total sense. Unless you were a member of the aristocracy, there was a strong chance that you could not read or write.
A recipe requiring exactly one pound of each ingredient made for one that’s easy to remember and bake at the drop of a hat. It also meant that you could easily halve the recipe if you didn’t feel like baking a massive cake for just your immediate family.
A Fan Favorite
The 1:1:1:1 recipe portions were extremely popular in Britain, the pound cake’s country of origin, and soon that popularity would quickly make its way to the colonies.
American Cooking by Amelia Simmons was the first cookbook published by an American, and it contained a recipe for the baked British export.
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