New Delhi: When Rhossi, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, was found by a dog on a Welsh beach in December 2023, he barely weighed a kilogram and was more than 8,000 kilometres from his native Gulf of Mexico. Cold-stunned by the frigid North Atlantic, the tiny turtle was near death and battling pneumonia.
Nearly two years later, after intensive rehabilitation in Wales and a carefully coordinated transatlantic rescue mission, Rhossi is in Houston, Texas, one step closer to returning home.
“It’s a tale two years in the making,” the Houston Zoo said in a blog titled ‘Rhossi’s Road Home: One More Step Toward the Gulf’. The article described the journey as involving “a helicopter ride from Wales to Heathrow, a transatlantic flight to Houston, and a long-awaited homecoming for Rhossi”.
Rhossi arrived in Texas on 10 August and was placed in a deep-water tank at the Houston Zoo to acclimate to his new surroundings. His arrival followed months of care at Anglesey Sea Zoo in north Wales, where staff nursed him back to health. During his rehabilitation, Rhossi more than tripled in size, gaining strength and stamina. By the time he left Wales, he weighed about 21 kg, a dramatic turnaround from the juvenile found barely surviving on the sand.
Can’t go home just yet
While Rhossi appears healthy, his ordeal has left lasting damage. This week, the turtle underwent a comprehensive medical examination led by Dr Joe Flanagan, a senior veterinarian who briefly came out of retirement to assist with his treatment. The examination included checks of his eyes, mouth, shell, and flippers, along with X-rays and a CT scan to examine his lungs. The zoo said Rhossi “appeared healthy, active and vigorous”, swimming, diving, and breathing normally. But the scans revealed lingering pneumonia, meaning his return to the Gulf will take longer than initially hoped.
“Rhossi’s medical team will continue to monitor him and provide additional treatment, as needed, to ensure the best possible chance of a successful return to the wild,” the zoo said.
Kemp’s ridley turtles are native to the Gulf of Mexico but can occasionally be swept thousands of miles away by powerful ocean currents. Rhossi’s journey is an extreme example of how far a young turtle can travel from its natural range. His rescue also highlights the precarious position of the species. Kemp’s ridley is among the world’s most endangered sea turtles; conservation groups estimate that only about 7,000 to 9,000 nesting females remain. The turtles face threats including accidental capture in fishing gear, habitat loss, and egg collection.
The Houston Zoo credited the “incredible dedication and careful coordination” of the organisations and individuals involved in Rhossi’s rescue and transfer. These include the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Anglesey Sea Zoo, the Texas State Aquarium, and Welsh helicopter pilot Darren Briggs.
For now, the young turtle’s future depends on his recovery.
“While his return to the Gulf of Mexico will take a little longer than expected,” the zoo said, “Rhossi’s story is a testament to the power of collaboration and compassion in wildlife conservation.”
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
Also read: What happens in the brain when you’re scrolling? New China study has an answer