Baby turtles get a new home

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FIRST PHOTO: A green sea turtle about 2 months old flaps its flippers while being transferred to its new tank at the Maui Ocean Center's Turtle Lagoon on Tuesday morning. At least five baby turtles were provided to the Maalaea aquarium by the captive breeding program at Oahu's Sea Life Park. They will spend about three years growing at Maui Ocean Center before being released into the wild. In the wild, this period of life is called the "lost years" for green sea turtles. They roam the sea far and wide, and do not haul out to lounge onshore as older turtles do. The addition of the new babies is part of the center's turtle program. Holding the turtle is the center's curator, John Gorman. Donya Jadvar (SECOND PHOTO), 5, of Pasadena, Calif., laughs after being startled by a baby green sea turtle Tuesday. As she was touching its shell, the turtle hit her hand by flapping its flippers.