Vic turtle returns to wild after two years

A Victorian sea turtle found beached and close to death more than two years ago has returned to the wild.

Melbourne Aquarium, which took on the task of nursing loggerhead sea turtle Blair back to health, announced on Thursday the turtle was back in open waters.

Blair was dehydrated, exhausted and a mere four kilograms when found at Blairgowrie on the Mornington Peninsula in December 2013.

But she was now a shell-busting 25kg when released on Tuesday at Gabo Island, off the Gippsland coast near the NSW border.

"Thanks to this special program, a rich diet and lots of love and care she is well prepared for any threats she may face in the wild," aquarium exhibit manager Tereza Todd said on Thursday.

Ms Todd said the island's proximity to the East Australian Current allowed Blair the option to head north or stay in Victoria's cooler waters.

Rehabilitating Blair was a key project for aquarium staff because she forms part of the critically endangered South Pacific population of loggerhead sea turtles.

The proud staff will now monitor Blair's progress from afar via a GPS tracking tag.

The data will also be available at www.turtlewatch.org.au/