By Jeffrey Burton, BCN intern

The Tybee Island Marine Science Center released Ike, the 3-year-old Loggerhead turtle back into the ocean last Saturday morning.

Hundreds of people showed up in the early morning to watch the release of Ike. Ike was a straggler, a baby turtle that hatched but got stuck in their nest that was taken in by the Science center.

“We wait when they turn 3,” said Jessica Boyle, a volunteer from the center, “At that point you saw today, Ike was sixty four pounds compared to the 14 grams when they were when they came in, so that they can have a much better chance to survive.”