Rare Kemp's Ridley Turtle Flies 5,000 Miles Home to Gulf of Mexico
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 8
Rare Kemp's Ridley Turtle Flies 5,000 Miles Home to Gulf of Mexico
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 8
Summary
Rhossi, a Kemp's ridley sea turtle rescued on a Welsh beach in December 2023, has begun a 5,000-mile trip back to the Gulf of Mexico after nearly two years of rehabilitation.
A helicopter from Anglesey to London and a cargo flight to Houston were arranged because the 21kg turtle must travel quickly out of water, with staff keeping his skin, shell and eyes constantly lubricated.
Anglesey Sea Zoo said Rhossi was found cold-stunned and barely alive at under 1kg, then recovered enough in captivity to triple in size and become fit for release.
Kemp's ridleys are the world's rarest sea turtles, nesting on only two beaches in Mexico and Texas, and the zoo hopes Rhossi's return will modestly aid the species' survival.