A trans-Atlantic wildlife relocation is being arranged for Rhossi, a critically endangered sea turtle found on a beach in Wales, to give the animal a better chance of survival.
If all goes to plan, Rhossi will travel from Wales to the Gulf of Mexico, where warmer conditions could allow the turtle to be safely released back into the wild.
What happened?
On December 13, 2023, a dog walker spotted the turtle stranded at Rhosneigr on Anglesey, WalesOnline reported. The animal, named Rhossi, is a Kemp's ridley sea turtle, one of the rarest turtle species in the world.
Unfortunately, the species is listed as "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with its global population estimated at only around 22,000 mature individuals, per WalesOnline.
Rhossi was later taken in by the Anglesey Sea Zoo, where it has stayed since being discovered on the beach.
But cold waters around the United Kingdom can seriously threaten Kemp's ridleys, which are better adapted to much warmer seas. That is why Rhossi is due to be moved thousands of miles to the Gulf of Mexico, since stranded marine reptiles can be harmed or killed if they remain in low temperatures.
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The IUCN has suggested that a rise in strandings around the UK may unintuitively be a good thing, as it could reflect that the vulnerable species is recovering and its population numbers may be rising.
Why does it matter?
Turtles play important roles in ocean ecosystems, and healthier marine environments can support fisheries, biodiversity, and coastal communities that depend on the sea.
But the story also highlights the practical barriers conservation groups must navigate. The UK and Irish Marine Turtles Organisation said it has become more difficult to return stranded turtles to warmer waters since the UK's exit from the European Union, per WalesOnline.
Fees now apply at multiple stages, and in 2024, six loggerhead turtles from the UK were instead released near the Azores after being transported with the Royal Navy, according to the outlet.
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