34 rehabilitated sea turtles released back into the ocean
History was made in Georgia on Wednesday as the state marked its largest sea turtle release on record.
"We actually had 33 Kemp's ridley turtles and one green sea turtle released today off of Jekyll Island," said Rachel Overmeyer, the rehabilitation program manager at Georgia Sea Turtle Center.
The endangered turtles all came from up north. They were brought from New England Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society and the New York Marine Rescue Center.
The organization Turtles Fly Too flew the turtles in.
"[Turtles Fly Too] is a not-for-profit organization that brings together the need to transport the endangered sea turtles and the availability of volunteer pilots who operate their own general aviation aircraft to save the turtles the stress of long-distance travel by road," said Turtles Fly Too pilot and volunteer Steve Bernstein.
There are a number of reasons why Jekyll Island was picked as the release location.
"It's convenient. Obviously, we have an airport on the island, but our facility, you know, we have a great partnership with Turtles Fly Too and these other facilities up in the New England area, up in the northern states that we all band together and, you know, help these animals in need," Overmeyer said.
Overmeyer told sister station WJCL 22 News all of the turtles were cold-stunned when they were rescued. Their release into Georgia waters will help ensure they stay warm, at least for a while.
"Our waters are just now warm enough that we can release animals," Overmeyer said.
Overmeyer said while she has taken part in a number of releases in Georgia over the years, the work never gets old.
"Releases are just so special because it's what we put our blood, sweat and tears into, and it's what we do every day. It is what we work for. So to be able to see them released is really exciting," she said.