Loggerhead Turtles flown back to Gran Canaria

Two Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) washed up on beaches in Devon and Cornwall were flown back to Gran Canaria after being nursed back to health by the Blue Reef Aquaruim in Newquay.

In all 23 Loggerheads have been stranded off English and Irish coasts this year with ‘Dink’ and ‘James’ being lucky enough to be returned to the warmer waters off Las Palmas. Mr Slater from the aquarium said "It was absolutely beautiful. Let's hope no more turtles get stranded, but if they do we know we can look after them." Both turtles have been microchipped, so if they are ever spotted again, they can be identified by a tag in their flippers. After arriving in Gran Canaria, Dink and James were checked over and given the all-clear at the Wildlife Recovery Centre of Tafira. Some 150 injured turtles from around the Canary Islands are taken here each year. "Through diagnosis, treatment, operations, protein-rich food, fluid and antibiotics, we help save 80% of the turtles that we receive," said Pascal Calabuig the centre’s director. It was Mr Calabuig's excellent reputation and his centre's track record that helped Blue Reef decide to choose Gran Canaria as the release site. "We could also get cheap flights and the Canary Islands are the nearest land point to the loggerheads' migration route around the Atlantic," explained Mr Slater.