Posted on 12/01/2021 11:58:47 AM PST by nickcarraway
Tally the turtle is now having specialist treatment at Anglesey Zoo.
A rare turtle has washed up on a Welsh beach more than 4,000 miles from its natural habitat.
The juvenile Kemp's Ridley sea turtle was found stranded on Talacre beach in north Wales on Sunday, November 28, and has since been transferred to Anglesey Sea Zoo for intensive care, North Wales Live reports.
This rare species is protected with just two known breeding sites remaining globally - both in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Experts said it will have lost its way whilst journeying through warmer seas further south in the Atlantic, probably due to the recent strong wind and currents, as sea turtles are known to travel vast distances.
But the cold and windy weather here is unsustainable for such species of turtles to survive, and it is lucky that it was found alive, as many of the tropical turtles washed up around the UK are found dead.
Upon initial examination, little damage was found to the sea turtle, and although dehydrated, it showed signs of being strong and is so far responding well to treatment.
Following in the footsteps of its predecessor ‘Menai’ who was stranded in the Menai Strait, sea zoo staff have called the turtle ‘Tally’ since it was found on Talacre beach.
Tally is currently undergoing initial critical care and careful rehabilitation with hourly checks through the day and night, involving gradual rehydration and raising of its ambient temperature over time.
Although it is currently responding well to treatment, the turtle is in a serious condition from its ordeal and may not survive.
Its progress over the next few days should give an indication of its long-term prospects.
Ms Frankie Hobro, director and owner of the Anglesey Sea Zoo, told North Wales Live: “We are extremely excited that this magnificent little creature has washed up alive here in north Wales, and it is particularly poignant that this has happened almost exactly five years after the arrival of ‘Menai’ who became so famous.
"It is fortunate that the turtle stranded on a beach where it was found quickly, otherwise it would certainly have died.
"Tropical turtles washed up on our shores may appear dead when they are in fact in a state of torpor, or physiological ‘shut down’ due to the unsuitably low temperatures, and if this is the case they may be revived and can make a full recovery under the right conditions.
"Our staff are working hard to rehabilitate this turtle, as we did successfully with Menai, and we hope that it will survive and be able to be flown back and released in warmer waters once it is strong enough - we will keep you informed of her progress. However it is early days and a very critical time so we cannot be certain yet that it will pull through."
She added: "The Anglesey Sea Zoo believes that the best place for large migratory marine animals, such as sea turtles, is in the wild, and do not believe in having such species on long term display.
"Therefore this turtle is not on public display at the Sea Zoo, it will continue to be cared for behind the scenes in the specialised and controlled environment which it needs to be properly treated and rehabilitated.
"Should it survive, we would be delighted to see it eventually returned to the wild where it belongs”.
Anglesey Sea Zoo runs a voluntary Marine Animal Rescue facility to attend any stranded or injured marine animals.
The Sea Zoo want to urge members of the public to be vigilant at looking out for any further sea turtle strandings on local beaches as during previous winters there have been records of several tropical turtle strandings over a short period of time.
Members of the public should not touch turtles or try to return the animals to the water if they find them, as this is likely to kill them.
Instead they should contact British Divers Marine Life Rescue, the RSPCA or the Anglesey Sea Zoo Marine Animal Rescue facility directly.
Caught a sweet wave and rode it out.
Gulf Stream.
No, the world’s rarest sea turtle is the one that never washes up anywhere.
Weakening geomagnetic field and wandering poles.
Going to se, not less of this kind of grounding...
I thought they had a separate Marine Reptile Rescue Dept.
lol
Bear on a shark trumps turtle on a wale
It’s called natural selection. The dumb sea turtles don’t make it.
We got to go to a beach where sea turtles laid eggs live time and there was an effort to save them in Guyana.
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