( CNN ) Marine biologists at the South Carolina Aquarium are treating a rare , 475-pound leatherback sea turtle that washed up Saturday on a nearby beach . The episode marks the first rescue of a leatherback sea turtle in South Carolina and is believed to be only the fifth live rescue of this species in the United States , according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources . The endangered turtle was found stranded on the Yawkey-South Island Preserve , a wildlife refuge near Georgetown , South Carolina . Rescuers named it Yawkey . Because the turtle is believed to be a juvenile -- rescuers say it 's probably less than 10 years old -- and has not reached sexual maturity , biologists ca n't yet determine its sex . Rescuers found no external signs of trauma to the reptile , although it was hypoglycemic . Staffers with the aquarium 's sea turtle rescue program gave it antibiotics , vitamins and some time to recover at their facilities . The treatments appear to be helping . Aquarium officials said the turtle was more energetic Tuesday than when it was first admitted . Even so , leatherback turtles historically do n't do well in captivity . For that reason , aquarium staffers are working with the state 's Department of Natural Resources to determine the best place and time to release the turtle back into the ocean -- most likely within the next few days . Leatherbacks are the largest turtles on Earth and can grow up to 2,000 pounds . They are found throughout the world 's oceans and have been spotted as far north as Norway and as far south as South America .
Staffers at South America are treating a rare , 475-pound leatherback sea turtle . The turtle washed up Saturday on a nearby beach and may be returned to the ocean soon .