SEAL BEACH, Calif. – There are green sea turtles in the San Gabriel River all year long, which is exactly why one rehabilitated turtle was returned to the area.

A green sea turtle was rescued in San Luis Obispo County. The turtle seemed weak so it was brought to the Aquarium of the Pacific for treatment, where it was looked after for three weeks.

The turtle was returned to the ocean on August 16 in Seal Beach.

“He took off! Like normally in videos or something you see they just kind of wonder around and figure it out and eventually end up in the water. He was like I’m gone. So it was really neat. I can’t even believe I got to see that,” said Ashley Nichols, who brought her daughter to watch the release.

Nearly all species of sea turtles are endangered.

Wherever this turtle goes it will carry a piece of this experience literally in a microchip ID.