Image by Charlotte Gutman/TheDigitelImage by 20081222-sea-turtle-3.jpg

The South Carolina Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital is having its busiest time ever: 12 turtles are currently being treated and cared for.

Reporter Charlotte Gutman dropped by and snapped some nice pictures, and freelancer Paul Zoeller has assembled an excellent set of shots showing you what goes on at the hospital -- go check them out.

The aquarium offers tours of the hospital on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 1 p.m. Ticket are $10 ($5 kids), call (843) 577-FISH. Here's a bit about the tour from a press release:
The tours offer a firsthand look at the efforts of the Aquarium's team of trained professionals as they care for sick and injured sea turtles each day through the Aquarium's renowned Sea Turtle Rescue Program. Attendees will meet the Hospital's current "patients," and hear about the intensive treatment and daily care that help to nurse the vulnerable turtles back to health.

Update December 26: The Post and Courier offers a more traditional write-up about the maxed-out turtle hospital, but I still think the money's with that photo gallery linked to above. Still, here's a link to the story.