Daily News Photos by CRISTIAN SIMESCU Turtle Hospital director Richie Moretti, left, USDA wildlife services biologist Toby Hairston, St. Croix Educational Complex student Mohammed Misbeh, 17, and Dan Raymond, of St. Joseph, Mo., release Sandy, a hawksbill

ST. CROIX - Sandy, a hawksbill turtle that survived a brutal dog attack more than a year ago, was released back into the wild Tuesday afternoon on St. Croix.

The sea turtle made a full recovery at Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Fla., and was returned home Tuesday on an American Airlines flight from Miami and then transported to Sandy Point Wildlife Refuge. Once she arrived at the refuge she was carried to the water's edge, where she swam out to sea.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife employees found the injured sea turtle during a routine patrol of the wildlife refuge on Oct. 10 last year following the dog attack. She had sustained serious injuries to her front two flippers and to one of her rear flippers.

Dr. Michelle Mehalick performed emergency surgery at Island Animal after she was rescued from the beach with the help of Department of Planning and Natural Resources' Division of Fish and Wildlife personnel.

Sandy was airlifted from St. Croix on Nov. 11, 2008, on American Airlines to the Turtle Hospital for further treatment. Founded in 1986, the facility is a nonprofit organization that uses state-of-the art equipment and a full-time staff to care for injured sea turtles. More than 750 sea turtles have been treated and released from the hospital.

St. Croix Educational Complex students check out Sandy. The sea turtle was transported from Miami to St. Croix in the padded box.

Because of the severity of the injury to her front right flipper, veterinary staff at the hospital decided to amputate it. Sandy has since recovered from her other wounds and regained her strength, adapting to swimming with just three flippers. The staff at the hospital was able to save two-thirds of her front left flipper, even though it also was badly injured.

On Tuesday, Turtle Hospital director Richie Moretti and administrator Ryan Butts joined Sandy on the flight back home to St. Croix. "This is the farthest we ever brought a turtle," Moretti said. "It's absolutely fabulous to bring a turtle out so far."

Moretti said Sandy was removed from her holding tank about 6 a.m. and smeared with petroleum jelly and given artificial tears to keep her skin and eyes from drying out before being placed in a large wooden crate. The inside of the crate was equipped with several holes for breathing, along with padding and plastic. Sandy was also wrapped in a wet towel to keep her moist and comfortable.

American Airlines personnel helped load and unload the crate in Miami and St. Croix, Moretti said. The airline company did not charge for the shipping for the turtle or for Moretti and Butts to join her on the flight.

Once Sandy was removed from the plane, Moretti opened the box to check her condition and was pleasantly surprised to see that the towel she was wrapped in was still cool and wet. She was then transported inside her crate to Sandy Point, where she was released into the Caribbean Sea.

"She did great," Moretti said. "I thought she'd be buoyant a little longer, but she blew the air out of her lungs, dove right under and took off."

"Seeing as spunky as she is, she'll probably be up on the beach next year laying eggs," he said. Moretti said Sandy has been tagged, and biologists or volunteers checking turtles laying eggs will be able to confirm if she does come back to lay a nest.

Ann Marie Gibbs, a science teacher from Educational Complex, brought about 35 science students from the high school to watch the release.

"I'm glad they were able to revive the turtle and bring it back in its natural habitat," said Gibbs. "I'm glad there are programs like that in Florida."

Claudia Lombard, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife at Sandy Point Wildlife Refuge, said the release was smooth and successful. "The minute we took the top of the box off, the turtle was strong and alert," Lombard said. "It was great to see so many come out to support the sea turtle conservation, from school kids, to the media and other natural resource conservationists on St. Croix."

To report sea turtle or other wildlife violations call U.S. Fish and Wildlife at 773-4554, DPNR at 773-1082 or VIPD at 911. To report stranded, injured, trapped, disoriented or dead sea turtles call STAR (Sea Turtle Assistance and Rescue) at 690-0474.

- Contact Cristian Simescu at 774-8772 ext. 459 or e-mail simescu@dailynews.vi.