HARWICHPORT, Mass. - The New England Aquarium in Boston has released a 7-foot-long, 655-pound leatherback sea turtle back into waters off Cape Cod after it was treated for dehydration, trauma and shock.

The turtle was found stranded near the tip of the cape Thursday. Experts at the aquarium say the male turtle was underweight and lethargic, and a large portion of its left front flipper was missing because of some kind of trauma.

   Aquarium officials said the turtle regained its strength, and they released it off Harwichport on Saturday.

   Leatherback sea turtles are endangered and the largest reptile in the world. Experts treated the turtle using information obtained from research on leatherbacks that were briefly captured over the past few summers off Cape Cod.