Aquarium releases 3-year-old loggerhead turtle

Associated Press
Published: June 4, 2009
Updated: June 4, 2009

WASSAW ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — Oliver the loggerhead sea turtle is free.

The 3-year-old turtle was released Wednesday from Wassaw Island off the Georgia coast by officials from the University of Georgia Marine Extension Service Aquarium. Oliver was found as a baby in a nest on the island in 2005 after he failed to swim out to sea with his siblings.

He is now about 15 inches long and weighs about 18 pounds, too small to have a satellite tag that provides real-time tracking. Instead, aquarium officials outfitted him with identification tags so he can be recognized if he shows up again. He also has been trained to hunt for food.

Aquarium officials say loggerhead sea turtles migrate as far north as Cape Cod, Mass., during warm weather and spend the winter in the South.

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Information from: Savannah Morning News, http://www.savannahnow.com