‘Luckiest unlucky’ sea turtle released back into the ocean Monday

An endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle named “Peach” was released back into the ocean Monday after spending four months being rehabilitated by the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Care Center.

Peach is a 55-pound adult female Kemp’s ridley, according to a release from the aquarium. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources captured Peach on June 1 during a routine in-water sea turtle survey.

The crew found her off the coast of Charleston with monofilament fishing line wrapped around her head and flipper. Fishing line was also sticking out of her mouth, the release says.

Peach was then transported to the aquarium’s Sea Turtle Care Center to have the lines removed.

But it wasn’t a simple procedure.

The line extended through Peach’s throat into her stomach, and continued into her intestines, according to the release.

She had to undergo major surgery to have it removed.

“If she hadn’t been found, especially by a SCDNR vessel, she may not have survived another week,” said Dr. Shane Boylan, the veterinarian who performed surgery on Peach. “She’s the luckiest unlucky turtle we’ve ever treated.”

Peach is the first Kemp’s ridley sea turtle to be rescued and satellite tagged in South Carolina, the release says.

A satellite transmitter tag was placed on her shell Monday morning, and she was released back into the ocean ocean from the north end of Folly Beach.

This story was originally published October 9, 2017 at 5:21 PM with the headline "‘Luckiest unlucky’ sea turtle released back into the ocean Monday."