After three years of captivity, “Westie,” the loggerhead sea turtle raised at the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, was released on Saturday morning.

Originally found as a hatchling that couldn’t quite make it out of its nest on Ossabaw, Westie is named after the late Eleanor “Sandy” West, a lifelong resident whose sale of the island to Georgia allowed it to become a state heritage preserve.

Prior to being released, Westie was fitted with a satellite tracker, thanks to 10-year-old local activist Liddy Clever. She raised funds through Save Sea Life with Liddy, her nonprofit environmental organization. 

TIMSC plans to post updates of Westie’s location on its website and social media channels each Wednesday.

The Tybee Island Marine Science Center on Tybee Island. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight Local/Report for America
Secured for transport, “Westie”, the loggerhead sea turtle, is carried out of the Tybee Island Marine Science Center on Tybee Island. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight Local/Report for America
“Westie”, the loggerhead seat turtle, is loaded onto a truck for transport to the beach before his release on Tybee Island. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight Local/Report for America
“Westie”, the loggerhead sea turtle, is loaded onto a truck for transport to the beach before his release on Tybee Island Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight Local/Report for America
Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight Local/Report for America
Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight Local/Report for America
Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight Local/Report for America
Crowds of onlookers, volunteers, and employees of the Tybee Island Marine Science Center watch as “Westie” is released into the ocean. Tybee Island. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight Local/Report for America
Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight Local/Report for America
Crowds of onlookers, volunteers, and employees of the Tybee Island Marine Science Center watch as “Westie” is released into the ocean. Tybee Island. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight Local/Report for America
Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight Local/Report for America
Volunteers and employees of the Tybee Island Marine Science Center pose for a photo after “Westie”, the sea turtle, is released into the ocean. Tybee Island. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight Local/Report for America

Type of Story: Feature

A feature is a story that is less tied to daily news but brings insight into a community issue or topic.

Justin Taylor is a visual journalist based in Savannah. He is a Catchlight Local/Report for America Corps member. His versatile style blends elements of fine art, photojournalism, and drone photography. A...