Turtle-oo! It was time to say toodleoo to sea turtles. Above: Spectators watch as a loggerhead crawls in the surf one mile south of Beach Access Road 1 on Sunday, It was April Fool’s Day, but it was no joke: Volunteers with the Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) released four sea turtles on the beach in Port Aransas on Sunday, April 1.

An estimated 200 folks, many wielding cameras, gathered at the shore about one mile south of Beach Access Road 1 to watch two Kemp’s ridley and two loggerhead sea turtles crawl across the sand and into the water, then swim away.

The sea turtles earlier were found suffering from a variety of maladies and were taken to the ARK at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas.

The turtles included one that was found emaciated and floating off Harbor Island in September last year by kayakers.

Another was a 75-pounder that was found in distress on a cold day in December near where it ended up being released.

April 1. At right: Onlookers train cameras on a Kemp’s ridley turtle as volunteer John Ray holds it shortly before its release. The Animal Rehabilitation Keep ( ARK) released four sea turtles on the beach. STAFF PHOTOS BY DAN PARKER (To see a video of the turtle release, go to the South Jetty’s Web site, www.portasouthjetty.com.)