Critically endangered turtle to return home after two year rehab in Wales

Abby Neve

A critically endangered sea turtle is set to begin its journey home to the Gulf of Mexico after being found on a beach in Wales two years ago.

The Kemp Ridley turtle, named Rhossi, was discovered cold-shocked and close to death by a local dog on Traeth Llydan, Rhosneigr, Anglesey, in December of 2023.

Rhossi is due to begin its journey home on the 10th August as part of an international effort by volunteers from Wales, England and the United States.

The turtle had been rehabilitated by volunteers at Anglesey Sea Zoo. Rhossi was the fourth cold-stunned sea turtle rescued and rehabilitated by the zoo in the last decade – and each of the four endangered turtles were first discovered by a dog.

Frankie Hobro, the owner and director of Anglesey Sea Zoo, said:

“This is the moment we’ve been working towards every single day for more than two years, so it’s incredibly emotional. Rhossi arrived with us as a tiny, cold-stunned turtle fighting for his life, and now we’re preparing to watch him make the journey home where he belongs.”

“What has been overwhelming throughout this whole process has been the kindness and generosity of so many people. This has become far bigger than Anglesey Sea Zoo. It’s taken an extraordinary team of conservationists, volunteers, businesses and wildlife experts on both sides of the Atlantic to make this happen, and we simply couldn’t have reached this point without their support.”

“The time has finally come and things have come together on both sides of the Atlantic. Rhossi has recovered brilliantly and is continuing to grow, his return to the Gulf of Mexico where he can live as a wild turtle again is well overdue and we hope, one day he will play his part in helping secure the future of this critically endangered species.”

According to the sea turtle conservancy, Kemp Ridley turtles are the most endangered species of sea turtle, and they are at risk due to high levels of incidental take by shrimp trawlers, collection of eggs, and being killed for meat. Breeding populations are confined to the Gulf of Mexico.

When Rhossi was found, he was ‘cold shocked’. According to CRBC, this is “when water temperatures fall below about 10°C, turtles become hypothermic: their body temperatures drop, muscles fail, heart rates slow and they become too weak to swim or dive.”

When Rhossi was first discovered, he was only 25 centimetres long and weighed less than a kilogram.

Welsh entrepreneur and helicopter pilot Darren Briggs has volunteered to fly the turtle from Anglesey to Denham Aerodrome 5 miles from Heathrow. He said:

“When Frankie told me Rhossi’s story, there was never any question about helping. This isn’t simply about transporting a turtle from one place to another; it’s about giving one of the world’s rarest sea turtles the chance to get back to where he belongs.”

“My daughter has always had a passion for marine conservation, so this is a cause that resonates strongly with our family. To be able to use my helicopter to play a small part in such an extraordinary international conservation effort is a real privilege.”

Partners in the United States have been working overtime to make the release possible. A US Fish and Wildlife Service inspector has worked beyond normal hours to process the arrival, and Dr Joe Flanagan, a renowned sea turtle veterinarian, has come out of retirement to oversee Rhossi’s health checks.

Mary Kay Skoruppa, a US fisheries and Wildlife Co-Ordinator has also come out of retirement to ensure Rhossi’s safe return.

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