Georgia Aquarium welcomes sea turtles evacuated ahead of Hurricane Matthew

ATLANTA - The Georgia Aquarium is welcoming 18 new seas turtles who had to be evacuated during Hurricane Matthew.  

The devastating storm forced staff at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center in Jekyll Island to ship a number of their animals to safety.

A variety of sea turtles—young green sea turtles, Kemp’s ridley turtles, loggerhead hatchlings, box turtles, and river cooters—arrived at the Georgia Aquarium this past weekend.

The animals are expected to remain there for at least a week as Georgia Sea Turtle Center staff head back to Jekyll Island to evaluate their homes and the facility.