Six Sea Turtles, Including a Rare Hybrid, Set to Kick-off the Sea Turtle Release Season for the South Carolina Aquarium

The event is open to the public; attendees should plan to carpool, arrive early, and expect to pay for parking at the County Park.

More on the sea turtles being released:
Little River:
Little River is a 73-pound loggerhead sea turtle. S/he was found floating in Little River near the North Carolina border on May 27, 2011. Little River’s injuries included three boat propeller strikes to the shell and a partial front flipper amputation, possibly the result of a predator encounter. Treatment included wound care, antibiotics, vitamin injections and physical therapy. Little River has spent eleven months with us in the hospital and is certainly ready for a new adventure back in his/her natural habitat.

Eastham, Eclipse, Mason, Innis and Sampson:
This group of five turtles is part of a larger group that arrived at the Aquarium on January 15th via a first-class flight from Massachusetts on a private luxury jet! All were initially found cold-stunned off the Cape Cod coast in late November and December of last year. Cold-stunning occurs when sudden drops in air temperature cause coastal water temperatures to drop quickly. If sea turtles are exposed to these rapid reductions in water temperature, they may become hypothermic and unable to swim. South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program works to rescue, rehabilitate and release sea turtles that strand along the South Carolina coast. Located in the Aquarium, the Sea Turtle Hospital admits 20 to 30 sea turtles each year...Of these, roughly 10% are alive and successfully transported to the Sea Turtle Hospital. To date, the South Carolina Aquarium has successfully rehabilitated and released 83 sea turtles and is currently treating 13 patients. The average cost for each patient’s treatment is $36 a day with the average length of stay reaching nine months.

About the South Carolina Aquarium:
The South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston’s most visited attraction, features thousands of amazing aquatic animals from river otters and sharks to loggerhead turtles in more than 60 exhibits representing the rich biodiversity of South Carolina from the mountains to the sea. Dedicated to promoting education and conservation, the Aquarium also presents fabulous views of Charleston harbor and interactive exhibits and programs for visitors of all ages.

The South Carolina Aquarium, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and is open Daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m...Admission prices are: Toddler’s (1 and under) free; Youth (2-11) $12.95; Adults (12-61) $19.95; Seniors (62+) $18.95. The Aquarium plus the 4-D Theater experience is free for Toddler’s, $17.95 for Children, $24.95 for Adults, and $23.95 for Seniors. The 4-D Theater experience only is $6.95 for Children, Adults and Seniors and $2.95 for Members and Member Guests...For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/4/prweb9437690.htm