(AP) --
After nearly two years, South Carolina's Aquarium is ready to release its first turtle into the wild.
The Sea Turtle Hospital at the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston says it's releasing Mama Pritchard on Saturday at the Isle of Palms County Park. Mama Pritchard came to the sea turtle hospital in July 2008 after rescuers found that shell sounds caused her to be unable to deposit her eggs into a nest.
Aquarium staff repaired her wounds and are now ready to release Mama Pritchard so that she can mate and nest this year. In South Carolina, nesting season officially starts on May 15.
The Sea Turtle Hospital admits about 10 to 20 sea turtles each year. Officials say there are currently 13 patients.
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