A rare sea turtle is starting an amazing 5,000-mile journey back home to the Gulf of Mexico after being rescued on a Welsh beach.
The turtle is named Rhossi. He is a Kemp's ridley sea turtle, the rarest sea turtle species in the world. In December 2023, a dog named Meg found Rhossi on a beach in Anglesey, Wales. Rhossi was less than two years old and weighed less than 1 kilogram. He was close to death because the cold ocean water made him very sick and weak, a condition known as "cold-stunned."
Staff at the Anglesey Sea Zoo cared for Rhossi for more than two years. With their help, Rhossi grew strong and healthy, increasing his weight to 21 kilograms.
Now, conservationists are sending Rhossi back to the warm waters of his native home. His journey involves traveling by helicopter to London and then taking a cargo flight to Houston, Texas. Because sea turtles live in water, traveling by air can dry out their skin. Zoo staff placed Rhossi in a special temperature-controlled crate and carefully moisturized his shell and skin to keep him safe during the long flight.
Rhossi will soon be released back into the wild in the Gulf of Mexico. Staff at the Anglesey Sea Zoo say saying goodbye is emotional, but they are happy to see him return to his ocean home.