Giant green sea turtle found on South Padre Island

Sea Turtle Inc. officials thought their record-setting turtle nesting season had ended on South Padre Island, but they were wrong.

Wednesday night, a Cameron County Parks Police officer spotted a 300-pound green sea turtle nesting north of County Beach Access No. 5.

His discovery quickly excited conservationists at Sea Turtle Inc, who said this was the first recorded case of the threatened green sea turtle nesting on South Padre Island.

"We've never had a green sea turtle nest here before," George said.

Two other green sea turtles have also been documented nesting along the Texas coast this year, George said. This species usually nests around the Yucatan Peninsula, he added.

Because of its size, the turtle was estimated to be 75 years old.

"Greens live well over 100 years old, and they grow up to 500 pounds," George said. "Even 100-year-old greens will still nest."

Because of concerns about fluctuating weather in October and early November, the eggs will be incubated in Corpus Christi and likely released there, he said.