Third occurrence of world's rarest sea turtle washing up on UK beach in two months
Third occurrence of world's rarest sea turtle washing up on UK beach in two months
Mary-Ann Russon
By Mary-Ann Russon February 9, 2015 15:29 GMT
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The Kemp's Ridley sea turtle found on Fomby beach, which is currently in rehab from swimming through cold waters
(Lancashire Wildlife Trust)
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A critically endangered species of sea turtle has been washed up onto UK beaches three times in the last two months.
The Kemp's Ridley sea turtle is the rarest sea turtle in the world, hailing from the warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico.
While they are often found in Florida, Louisiana and New Jersey in the US, Kemp's Ridley turtles are also known to travel over the Atlantic Ocean, although females will always return to lay eggs on one single beach – the Rancho Nuevo in Tamaulipas, Mexico.
"It is rare for non-native turtles to be washed ashore but there have been strong westerly winds over December. Stray juveniles can sometimes be carried by strong currents from warmer seas and this might explain why they are so far away from home," explained Joan Edwards, The Wildlife Trusts' Head of Living Seas.
In December, two Kemp's Ridley turtles were found within a day of each other – the first at Formby beach, Southport and the second on Walney Island in Cumbria.
Both of the turtles are alive, with the one found on Formby beach being cared for by the RSPCA, while the turtle found on Walney Island is now at the Lake District Coast Aquarium in Maryport, Cumbria.
More:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/third-occurrence-worlds-rarest-sea-turtle-washing-uk-beach-two-months-1487233
