Critically endangered and often stranded on Cape Cod's beaches, Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles are being returned to the wild with help from a Rochester woman.

Five sea turtles hit the waves on June 16, released after a rehabilitation effort overseen by Kate Shaffer.

The turtles were rescued from Cape Cod in December 2015 and delivered to the National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay. All were suffering from “cold stun,” or turtle hypothermia. The condition makes them lethargic, and they are left at the mercy of the waves.

Shaffer, who is director of marine animal rehabilitation, ensures that turtles and seals brought to the center are nursed back to health.

It is the smallest sea turtle in the world, and the most endangered, said Shaffer.

When it comes to Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, Cape Cod is a hot spot for rescues due to its geography.

“They swim into the bay because it’s a great food resource for food, then the weather starts to get colder,” said Shaffer. “Instinctively, they want to travel south to warmer waters, but the arm of the Cape is in the way.”

The rehabilitated turtles were released at North Ocean Beach in Maryland on National Turtle Day. Volunteers and staff drove the animals to Maryland, where they will thrive in the warmer waters.

Shaffer said all five were found emaciated, requiring fluids and antibiotics to bring them back to health.

Usually, the center treats a dozen turtles annually, but that hasn’t been the case recently.

“The last two seasons have been record ones on Cape Cod,” said Shaffer. “The number of turtles taken in tripled.”

The center is one of a handful of marine life hospitals on the New England coast. It is the only one from northern Maine to Connecticut that takes in seals.

In addition to providing treatment, the center has an education component. Inside the center’s discovery center, live video feeds show visitors footage of the hospital, located next door.

Currently, there are 12 seal pups rescued from Maine and one more Kemp’s Ridley turtle being treated.

Shaffer, who is originally from upstate New York, said visiting Cape Cod in the summer with her family sparked her interest in marine biology.

She studied environmental science in college. At an internship in the Virgin Islands she worked with sea turtles for the first time. After stints of working with marine life in Florida, she returned to Massachusetts.

“That’s where I fell in love with the ocean, Cape Cod,” she said.

The National Marine Life Center is located at 120 Main St. It is funded primarily through private donations, which can be mailed to P.O. Box 269, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 or dropped in person, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.