Turtle travels 5,000 miles from Wales to Texas for recovery
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A Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, Rhossi, drifted from his usual range in the Gulf of Mexico to a beach in Wales, then travelled 5,000 miles to Houston, Texas for treatment and eventual release.
Rhossi weighed only two pounds when he was first found but has since grown to 46 pounds with care. Veterinarians discovered he had pneumonia during a thorough evaluation in Houston, but they report he is otherwise healthy and active.
The turtle’s journey required collaboration between multiple organisations including the Anglesey Sea Zoo, the Houston Zoo, the Texas State Aquarium, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, NOAA, and a Welsh helicopter pilot. This international effort focused on providing Rhossi with the necessary medical attention and coordinating his transport across continents. The Houston Zoo is currently treating Rhossi for his pneumonia and will continue to do so until they are confident he has the best chance of surviving in the wild.
Zoo admission tickets support the sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation program, allowing visitors to contribute to conservation efforts. Similar rescue operations are taking place in the U.K. and along the eastern coast of the United States, demonstrating a wider commitment to helping injured and displaced sea turtles.
