Resilient Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Successfully Returns Home After Epic Journey
In an extraordinary display of resilience and determination, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle named Tally has completed an epic journey across the Atlantic to return home. The critically endangered sea turtle embarked on a 22-hour journey from the United Kingdom to Texas, marking the culmination of a two-year international effort to save her life.
Tally’s incredible journey began on the shores of Wales, where she was found near death by a dog walker in November 2021. The Anglesey Sea Zoo provided months of intensive care to nurse her back to health, and it became clear that Tally needed to be returned to her native habitat in Texas.
However, transporting a sea turtle across the Atlantic is no easy task. A team led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service worked tirelessly to navigate the red tape involved in ensuring the protection of endangered species. After a year of bureaucratic hurdles, the next challenge was figuring out how to transport Tally back to the United States.
To aid in the logistics of the flight, the team enlisted the help of Turtles Fly Too, an organization that partners with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Ken Andrews of Turtles Fly Too described this mission as their furthest and most complex to date. The Royal Air Force (RAF) also stepped in, offering their facilities and support.
Thanks to the collaboration of various organizations, Tally was able to fly home on a British Airways commercial flight, generously donated by Turtles Fly Too. Upon her arrival in Texas, she underwent a full medical check-up at the Houston Zoo, where veterinarians determined that she was strong, healthy, and ready to begin her journey back to the wild.
The next step for Tally is a short stay in a deep water tank at the Houston Zoo to regain muscle strength. Thankfully, there were no signs of organ damage or pneumonia from her time spent in the cold waters of the Northeast Atlantic. Mary Kay Skoruppa, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Texas Sea Turtle Coordinator, emphasized that the winter conditions in the Northeast Atlantic usually result in certain death for this subtropical species.
Once Tally has regained her strength, she will be transferred to the Texas A&M University at Galveston’s Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research. There, a tracking device will be attached to monitor her movements before she is released back into the Gulf. The international team of partners, along with the Padre Island National Seashore Turtle Stranding team, plan to meet in Galveston to celebrate Tally’s release if everything goes according to plan.
We are incredibly thankful for all the volunteers and partners who have given Tally a second chance at life… We hope that Tally will grow to maturity and return to nest on a Texas beach in a few years to help ensure her species’ survival into the future, said Skoruppa.
Tally’s remarkable journey serves as a testament to the indomitable spirit of nature and the power of collaboration in conservation efforts. Her story of resilience and dedication has captured the hearts of people around the world, who eagerly await her release and hope for a bright future for this endangered species.
If you ever spot a sea turtle on a beach or shoreline, be sure to quickly report it by calling 1-866-TURTLE-5 (1-866-887-8535). Your prompt action can make a significant difference in saving these remarkable creatures.
Related: Kemp’s ridley sea turtle spotted nesting at Galveston Island State Park for second year in a row.
