Healthy again, sea turtles released to wild

Finally, home at sea.

Harmony, Jetty, Elvis and Stu -- four rehabilitated green sea turtles -- were released back into the wild last night in Hampton Bays.

Nearly 100 onlookers gathered at Ponquogue Beach waved goodbye and took photos. Volunteers from the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation set the turtles at the edge of the water, and they swam out into the ocean.

"It was absolutely amazing," said Josie Zambrano, 62, of Southampton, who walked into the water to photograph the creatures. "These turtles were like nothing I've ever seen. It was just a really cool experience."

Zambrano brought her grandson, Frankie Hance, 5, of Bethpage. Others enjoying a sunny day at the beach also attended.

The turtles were rescued off the East End last November suffering from cold-stunning, which occurs when waters drop to 50 degrees. The cold-blooded reptiles couldn't regulate their body temperature and stopped eating and swimming, which made it impossible for them to escape the cold water and migrate to warmer climates, foundation biologists said.

"These green sea turtles are a threatened species, so giving these animals a second chance -- it's just a great feeling," said Kim Durham, the foundation's rescue program director.