A stranded loggerhead turtle that was rescued from a Cumbrian beach has been transferred to a new aquarium to continue its recovery journey.
While it initially appeared lifeless – the sea creature was actually just cold-stunned and required urgent re-warming.
Cumbrian Marine Biologist and British Divers Marine Life Rescue regional co-ordinator, Sarah Neill, was called out to organise the rescue and travelled with the turtle in the back of a van to monitor it on the journey from Cumbria all the way to Blackpool.
Sea Life Blackpool’s specialist animal care team have since cared for the animal – which is now being transferred today to Sea Life Scarborough to continue its journey to recovery.
The Sea Life team were also able to discover more information about the turtle, which is named Nazaré, after the Portuguese wave.
Nazaré first became stranded off the coast of France in April last year where she was discovered with wounds to her limbs and neck.
She was then rescued and rehabilitated by a French Aquarium and was fitted with a satellite tag and released two months later.
Her rescue in Cumbria makes it the second time in less than a year that she has been rescued – and care team members said her satellite tag had also stopped transmitting around December last year.
The Marine Conservation Society said the algae on her body suggested the turtle had actually become comatose due to the cold water.
Loggerhead turtles can end up in colder waters by being taken off course by storms when following warm Atlantic currents.
Sarah said: “This turtle was very lucky to have been found and rescued when she was as the majority who are washed up in these circumstances sadly would not live.
“If they become ill, injured or weak, they can easily get swept up into the north Atlantic currents which will lead them into cold waters and anything colder than 15C results in them being unable to feed.”
Sea Life Blackpool said that thanks to around-the-clock care, Nazaré is making ‘great progress’ in the first stage of her rehabilitation.
Scott Blacker, curator at Sea Life Blackpool, said: “Nazaré was in an extremely delicate position when she came to Sea Life Blackpool but thanks to specialist expert care from our animal care team, she is making significant steps forward.
“Whilst Nazaré is doing well, she still has a long way to go in her journey back to full health and her next step on her road to recovery is to head to SEA LIFE Scarborough where the team there can continue working around the clock to give her the best chance of a full recovery.”
Todd German, curator at Sea Life Scarborough added that the team was delighted to be part of the next stage of Nazaré’s recovery.
He added: “The care which Sea Life Blackpool has given Nazaré has been phenomenal, and we are delighted she has made such incredible improvements. She still has a significant way to go before we will hopefully be able to release her back to her natural habitat.”
