“TONNI”, the tiny Loggerhead turtle brought to Anglesey Sea Zoo in a state of “torpor” due to cold-stranding, is now active and recuperating well, and expected to make a full recovery.
Tonni was found stranded on Moel-Y-Don beach on the shore of the Menai Strait on January 5 by two dogs.
Their owner realised that the tiny turtle was still alive and immediately contacted the sea zoo, before it was transferred there directly for specialist intensive care.
The little turtle was comatose, dehydrated and malnourished when it arrived and extremely small at just 25cm long and 1kg in weight, which caused concern for its chances of recovery after its ordeal.
But after an initial week of intensive care, close monitoring and treatment, the sea zoo has said Tonni’s recovery is going extremely well and the future now looks promising.
Tonni is much too small to be able to determine its sex and the name comes from “to”’, the Welsh word for wave.
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Frankie Hobro, director and owner of Anglesey Sea Zoo, said: “We are delighted with Tonni’s progress.
“Following a week of initial intensive care, Tonni has progressed into intermediate care and is now being maintained at a temperature of between 21°C and 22°C, which is ideal for this species.
“We are gradually increasing the depth of water as we see regular increased swimming and diving activity.
“We were excited to see bowel movements today, which means that Tonni’s metabolism is getting back to how it should be, and this means we can start to introduce some food items and hopefully get this little turtle feeding, which will be further progress still.
“We are now hopeful for a positive outcome, that Tonni will continue to recover under our care and can then be flown back and released in warmer waters further south in the Atlantic or the Mediterranean.”
If everything continues to go to plan, the sea zoo hopes to fly Tonni for release into warmer waters by the summer.
Meanwhile, the sea zoo still has “Tally”, the world’s rarest species of turtle here at its facility, thriving while awaiting re-release, after being rescued just more than a year ago.
Tally washed up cold-stranded on Talacre beach on November 28, 2021 and was transferred to Anglesey Sea Zoo for specialist intensive care.
Tally is a Kemps Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), the world’s rarest species of turtle and critically endangered, protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) regulations.
Just two known breeding sites remain for the species globally, both in the western Gulf of Mexico, where there are only approximately 8,000 breeding females.
Tally is believed to be a female although, as she is not yet fully mature, this cannot be confirmed.
Tally was also severely dehydrated and malnourished when found, and nursed back to health under the intensive care of the sea zoo, a process which took many weeks.
As a tropical species, she requires warmer temperatures than Tonni, and is being maintained at a water and air temperature of 25-26°C, with a diurnal lighting regime in the pool to replicate the hours of daylight and night which she would experience back in the wild.
In this environment, Tally has regained a healthy appetite and is particularly partial to feeding on soft-shelled crabs – which is not surprising as blue crabs, which are native in the Gulf of Mexico, are known to be a particular favourite of this species in the wild.
Tally has continued to increase muscle strength and weight and has now returned to full health, having more than doubled in size and weight since she was originally brought to the sea zoo.
As a critically endangered species, Tally has specific requirements for her release straight back into the wild.
The legal paperwork for her export is being finalised and as soon as the sea temperatures are warm enough in the Gulf of Mexico in the spring, Tally will be flown back for direct release.
This will be through collaboration with Texas-based voluntary organisation “Turtles Fly Too”, who are experienced in flying rescued turtles and other species, and the US Fisheries and Wildlife Service.
READ MORE: WATCH: Extremely rare turtle found in Talacre continues recovery ahead of return home
Anglesey Sea Zoo is also fundraising for a purpose-built turtle rescue centre, which currently does not exist anywhere in the UK.
Tally and Tonni are not on general public display at the sea zoo, but will continue to be cared for behind the scenes in the specialised and controlled environment, which they need to be properly treated and rehabilitated.
Stranded turtles often appear dead when they are, in fact, in a state of torpor, or physiological “shutdown” due to the low temperatures.
If this is the case, they may be revived and can make a full recovery under the right conditions if they are rescued quickly.
The sea zoo asks that, if you find a turtle, do not assume that it is dead even if it appears to be, and do not touch it or try to return it to the water as this is likely to kill it.
Instead, people are advised to immediately report it to British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) 01825 765 546, Marine Environmental Monitoring (MEM) 0800 6520 333, or Anglesey Sea Zoo directly (01248 430411) so a specialist can come to collect it.
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