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Rare leatherback sea turtle back in ocean after 5-day treatment at South Carolina Aquarium

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Yawkey, a rare leatherback sea turtle, moves off the beach at the Isle of Palms, S.C., on Thursday, March 12, 2015. The turtle was being returned to the the Atlantic Ocean after it was treated for five days at the South Carolina Aquarium. Yawkey, who was found on Saturday, March 7, 2015 in Georgetown County, S.C, is the first leatherback turtle known to have stranded alive in the state. (AP Photo/Bruce Smith) (The Associated Press)

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    Staff from the South Carolina Aquarium and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources lower the sides on a box containing Yawkey, a rare leatherback sea turtle, on the Isle of Palms, S.C., on Thursday, March 12, 2015. They were returning the turtle to the Atlantic Ocean after it was treated for five days at the aquarium. Yawkey, who was found on Saturday, March 7, 2015 in Georgetown County, S.C, is the first leatherback turtle known to have stranded alive in the state. (AP Photo/Bruce Smith) (The Associated Press)

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    Staff from the South Carolina Aquarium and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources help release Yawkey, a rare leatherback sea turtle, on the Isle of Palms, S.C., on Thursday, March 12, 2015. They were returning the turtle to the Atlantic Ocean after it was treated for five days at the aquarium. Yawkey, who was found on Saturday, March 7, 2015 in Georgetown County, S.C, is the first leatherback turtle known to have stranded alive in the state. (AP Photo/Bruce Smith) (The Associated Press)

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. – A rare 475-pound endangered leatherback sea turtle found stranded on a South Carolina beach has been released into the ocean after five days of treatment at the South Carolina Aquarium.

The turtle, named Yawkey, was released Thursday on a wind-swept beach at the Isle of Palms northeast of Charleston.

Staffers from the aquarium and the state Department of Natural Resources carried the turtle to the surf in a box. The sides of the box were flipped down and, after a minute or two of hesitation, Yawkey moved into the surf as a group of about 75 people cheered.

Aquarium workers who treated Yawkey with antibiotics and fluids said it was important to get the turtle back to the ocean quickly because leatherbacks don't do well in captivity.

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