Rare loggerhead turtle helped by experts at Sea Life Blackpool released back into the wild 1,600 miles away

A rare turtle which underwent specialist around-the-clock care by experts at Sea Life Blackpool has been released back into the wild after making the 1,600 miles trip to the Azores.

Loggerhead turtle Tiree, was named after the Scottish island, west of Mull, where the vulnerable turtle was discovered in great distress on November 3 last year by a walker on the beach.

Tiree was sent to Weymouth after being first looked after at Sea Life Loch Lomond. She also spent a time in Blackpool receiving specialist around-the-clock care by experts at both aquariums.

Tiree was released alongside two other rescued loggerhead turtles named Crush and Eden.

Crush was initially found washed up and lifeless by a dog walker on a beach in Jersey on January 19.

She was suffering from a cold shock and hypothermia, but was then flown to Britain to continue her recovery at Sea Life in Weymouth, where she was cared for by experts.

Eden was found on October 9 last year by a walker on the South Beach at Troon on the West Coast of Scotland. When discovered, she had a critically low body temperature.

She was taken to Sea Life in Loch Lomond, where she was gently warmed and given initial treatment, then a week later transferred to the special Turtle Rehabilitation Centre at Sea Life in Brighton.

After a period back in quarantine, the animals have been flown 1,600 miles (2,574km) to the islands in the Atlantic Ocean.

Sea Life Brighton has the UK's first permanent rehabilitation centre dedicated exclusively to sea turtle recovery.

Joe Williams, curator at SEA LIFE Brighton said: “This is a success story, not just for Eden but for SEA LIFE teams. Since building the UK's first turtle rescue and repatriation centre in 2024, we have been dedicated to supporting and saving turtles that arrive on UK shores unnecessarily through anthropogenic effects.

“Though it's sad to wave Eden goodbye, we feel full of joy for her to leave us and continue growing up, and to be part of this vulnerable species' conservation efforts.”

Loggerhead turtles are classified as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List, with numbers of breeding females estimated at 2,000 worldwide and only one in 100 hatchlings surviving to adulthood.

Kico Iraola, curator at SEA LIFE Weymouth added: “Both Tiree and Crush were very poorly little turtles when they came to us here at Weymouth.

"Throughout their rehabilitation, we were in constant communication with our vets at IZVG to monitor their health. We initially raised their temperature to bring them out of cold shock, and they underwent a series of routine blood tests, X-rays and CT scans before being deemed fit for release.

“We have really enjoyed seeing them grow and come back to full health and now to embark on the next stage of their adventure."