Turtles making tracks

As two loggerhead sea turtles inched their way across the Folly Beach sand to full recovery — a reunion with the ocean — more than 100 people cheered Tuesday afternoon.

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Sea Turtle Release

The South Carolina Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital released two juvenile loggerhead turtles at the Folly Beach County Park on Tuesday. Murrell, an 80-pound turtle, and Little Pritchard, who weighs 90 pounds, had no problem finding the Atlantic and swimming away.

Murrell and Little Pritchard were released from the South Carolina Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital after nearly a year of treatment and rehabilitation. Murrell suffered two fractures on the top of its shell, most likely from a boat propeller, and Little Pritchard had a stingray's barb puncture its right front flipper.

"It's so rewarding to see these guys who have come in really sick and really debilitated to be able to go back into the ocean healthy," aquarium educator Beth Claiborne said of the endangered species.

Kelly Thorvalson, a South Carolina native who grew up loving the ocean, now serves as the sea turtle rescue program coordinator, the only full-time hospital staff member. She, along with the aquarium's veterinarian and a volunteer staff, nursed the 38th and 39th hospital patients back to health.

"It's amazing that some of these sea turtles can survive the injuries they get," Thorvalson said. The majority of these injuries are human-inflicted, such as fishing gear entanglements, being caught on hook and line, boat strikes and trash ingestion.

Claiborne said it's important to keep any litter off the beach and out of the water to keep sea turtles from ingesting it, as well as to follow all boating regulations to avoid collisions with turtles.

The Atlantic coast is home to four of the seven sea turtle species, and South Carolina has more loggerhead sea turtle nestings than Georgia and North Carolina combined. But many of these endangered turtles are washing up on the state's shores, and only about 10 percent of those stranded on the beaches remain alive, Thorvalson said.

"I hope that they have a free life and go out and propagate because the sea turtles are endangered," Charleston resident Anne Chandler said. "We don't want to lose them, because they're too beautiful. I'll have to take off work to come see them again. It was so wonderful."

The South Carolina Natural Resources Department serves as a first responder for stranded sea turtles, and if one is found alive, the department contacts the sea turtle hospital.

"It's all hands on deck here in the hospital," Thorvalson said. "It's a pretty intense treatment when they first come in. Those that are alive are in critical, critical condition."

Once in the hospital, the staff works to stabilize and then rehabilitate immediately. The treatments can include antibiotics, fluids, surgeries or wound treatments.

As reptiles with slow metabolic rates, the sea turtles heal slowly, making an average hospital stay about 10 months. However, it can span up to two years. Grants, donations, the aquarium and volunteers keep the hospital running, but the expensive treatments and medicines take a monetary toll.

Thorvalson said she hopes the hospital tours show the negative impact humans can have on the sea turtle population and that people leave inspired to do more to help the creatures.

Kimberly Jones, a 34-year-old Charleston resident, said she came to teach her children about animals' need for their natural environment.

"I just think it's a wonderful thing to teach our children and to help each other remember that we need to respect them and help them to be as comfortable and as happy and as healthy as possible," Jones said.

HOW TO HELP

For anyone interested in helping the S.C. Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital, donations can contribute to various turtle treatments:

• $50: One month medical supplies
• $75: One month food supply
• $100: One radiograph test
• $300: One surgical procedure

— Adopt-an-animal gifts also can provide food and care for sea turtles. These adoptions range from $35 to $250. They include different member benefits.
— To schedule a hospital tour, call 843-577-3474 or visit scaquarium.org. The tours are $5 for children; $10 for adults (plus $17 aquarium admission).
— If anyone finds a sea turtle stranded on a South Carolina beach, please call 843-834-3254.