A critically endangered sea turtle named Rhossi has begun an arduous journey back to its natural habitat in the Gulf of Mexico, flying over 5,000 miles after months of specialized care. Rhossi, a Kemp's ridley sea turtle, one of the world's rarest species, was found near death on a beach in Anglesey, Wales, in December 2023.
The turtle, measuring just 25 centimeters and weighing less than a kilogram, was suffering from cold-stunning and was taken to the Anglesey Sea Zoo for an intensive rehabilitation program. After more than two years of care, Rhossi has completed the first stage of his journey, traveling by helicopter to Heathrow Airport and then boarding a cargo flight to Houston, Texas.
Conservationists applied Vaseline and KY Jelly to Rhossi's skin and eyes to prevent dehydration during the approximately 18-hour transit. Frankie Hobro, owner and director of Anglesey Sea Zoo, accompanied Rhossi, describing the trip as the culmination of years of work. "This is the moment we've been working towards every single day for more than two years, so it's incredibly emotional," Hobro stated.
Upon arrival in Houston, Rhossi will undergo further medical assessments before being transferred to the Texas coast. A specialized tank from the Houston Zoo will be used for his onward journey. His release into the Gulf of Mexico, near Padre Island, is scheduled for August 18. Before his release, conservationists will conduct blood tests, assess his weight and strength, and fit him with a satellite tracker to monitor his movements.
"We're doing loads of tests on him now - blood tests and all the medical stuff like his weight and strength, to make sure he's good to have a satellite tracker fitted," Hobro explained. The satellite tracking data will help monitor his integration into the healthy breeding population of Kemp's ridley sea turtles in the area.
Kemp's ridley turtles, scientifically known as Lepidochelys kempii, are considered the world's rarest and most critically endangered sea turtle species. They are native to the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern coast of the United States, with primary nesting sites in Mexico and Texas. Juvenile turtles can be swept across the Atlantic by ocean currents and become cold-stunned in colder European waters, leading them to wash ashore.
Rhossi is the fourth cold-stunned sea turtle rescued and rehabilitated by Anglesey Sea Zoo in the past decade. Remarkably, each of these turtles was discovered by a dog after washing ashore. The successful rescue and return journey of Rhossi marks the end of an extensive mission for the zoo.
