AssetID: 55924114
Headline: Endangered turtle that washed up on Welsh beach makes incredible return journey home to Texas
Caption: BY MARK WORGAN One of the world’s most endangered sea turtles has made a remarkable 5,000-mile journey from Wales to Texas after becoming stranded on the wrong side of the Atlantic. Rhossi, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle was flown from Wales to Heathrow by helicopter before travelling across the Atlantic to Houston on 10 August. He is now settling into his new surroundings at Houston Zoo, where its veterinary team is assessing his health and deciding on the next steps in his rehabilitation. Upon arriving in Texas, Rhossi underwent a comprehensive medical examination led by senior vet Dr Joe Flanagan, who briefly came out of retirement to treat the turtle. The examination included checks of his organ function, eyes, mouth, shell and flippers, as well as X-rays and a CT scan to examine his lungs. Although Rhossi appeared healthy, active and vigorous, the scans raised concerns about lingering pneumonia. His medical team will continue to monitor him and provide further treatment if needed, in the hope of giving him the best possible chance of returning to the wild. Rhossi’s remarkable story began on a beach in Anglesey in December 2023, when a local dog discovered the tiny, two-pound turtle thousands of miles from his natural home. Cold-stunned by the dangerously cold waters of the North Atlantic, Rhossi was taken in by the team at Anglesey Sea Zoo, which spent the next two years nursing him back to health. During that time, he grew stronger and more than tripled in size, eventually reaching 46lb. Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are native to the Gulf of Mexico, but they can occasionally be swept into powerful ocean currents and carried thousands of miles across the Atlantic. After years of care in Wales, Rhossi finally made his way back to Texas on 10 August, beginning a new chapter in his rehabilitation. On arrival, Houston Zoo’s sea turtle staff and a vet assessed him at the airport before he was taken to the zoo and placed in a deep-water tank to acclimatise to his new surroundings. As he settled in, veterinary and animal care teams worked together to understand his condition and determine what he would need to continue his journey home. His journey has involved the co-operation of several agencies and non-profit organisations, including US Fish & Wildlife, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Anglesey Sea Zoo, Houston Zoo and Texas State Aquarium, as well as Welsh helicopter pilot Darren Briggs. Together, they have supported Rhossi through an extraordinary journey spanning two continents. Although his return to the Gulf of Mexico will take a little longer than expected, his story highlights the dedication and co-operation involved in wildlife conservation. For now, the focus is on helping the resilient turtle regain full health and preparing him for his long-awaited return to the wild.
Keywords: feature,photo,video,turtle,animals
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