Warship release for 'miracle' turtle rescued from Anglesey gulls and now living it up in balmy Azores

The moment Tonni and the other Leatherheads are released back into the sea
-Credit: (Image: Royal Navy/MOD)


A tiny turtle found washed up on the freezing shores of North Wales is now luxuriating in the balmy waters of the Azores. The rare turtle was close to death when discovered on Anglesey but is now “living the best life” in the deep sea thanks to help from the Royal Navy.

Two dogs sniffed out “Tonni”, a young Loggerhead sea turtle, on the Menai Strait on January 5, 2023. Instead of becoming a snack for gulls, he was whisked to Anglesey Sea Zoo a quarter of a mile away for urgent attention.

At the time it was comatose, dehydrated and malnourished – zoo staff said it was a “miracle” the turtle had survived at all. Measuring 25cm long and 1kg in weight, the turtle was too small to discern a gender and so was named Tonni, from “tonnau”, the Welsh word for “wave”.

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After 20 months of care at the zoo, and now more than eight times heavier, Tonni was last week transported to Plymouth and transferred to HMS Medway, a Royal Navy patrol boat. After a four-day voyage, closely monitored by two Royal Navy staff, the turtle was released back into the wild in the mid-Atlantic ocean. Joining Tonni on the trip were four other Loggerhead turtles from the Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay, that had washed up in southern England.

Following their release, HMS Medway messaged: “You will be pleased to know we successfully released the turtles off the Azores into a southerly current on Monday. It was great having them onboard and the turtles performed a swim-past upon their release, with the entire ship’s company and FOST in attendance on the flight deck.”

After being found cold-stranded on Moel-Y-Don beach, Tonni was put in an incubator at Anglesey Sea Zoo and placed under round-the-clock observation. The turtle was successfully revived and then maintained at a temperature of 21C-22C. When ready, the turtle was moved to a larger tank and, after 20 months of care, weighed in at a hefty 8.5kg. Its gender won't be known until it reaches sexual maturity - which may not be for another 15-20 years.

Frankie Hobro, director and owner of the Anglesey Sea Zoo, drove Tonni on the eight-hour trip to Plymouth. She said: “We are delighted that Tonni will be living the best life now as a free turtle back in the Atlantic Ocean where they belong. Huge thanks to everyone who made this possible with your donations and support. We will of course miss seeing Tonni here every day.” Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone

Tonni shortly after the turtle was found on the Menai Strait
Tonni shortly after the turtle was found on the Menai Strait -Credit:Anglesey Sea Zoo

Cold-stranded turtles often die during revival but the zoo’s turtle team has earned a reputation as UK experts in the treatment for comatosed turtles during initial stages of recovery. Tonni was the third cold-stranded turtle they have rescued and rehabilitated.

A fourth rescue is “Rhossi”, a critically endangered Kemps Ridley turtle who washed up cold stunned in December 2023 on Rhosneigr Beach, Anglesey. The world’s rarest turtle species, it requires much warmer conditions than Loggerheads: the plan is to release Rhossi early next year in the Gulf of Mexico, a Kemps Ridley stronghold. Due to CITES regulations, rescued turtles cannot be kept on public display, so Rhossi is being kept behind the scenes during its rehabilitation.

Frankie warned of more exotic strandings on UK shores as the world’s climate changes. "Due to increasing sea temperatures in August and September, British waters are now within the lowest natural foraging temperatures of Loggerhead turtles,” she said.

“So sadly we should now expect more strandings of little turtles like Tonni during Atlantic storms in autumn and early winter. Due to climate change, we expect to have more cold-stranded turtles to rescue, rehabilitate and release in the near future.”

Tonni and her fellow turtle rescuees attracted plenty of interest on board HMS Medway
Tonni and her fellow turtle rescuees attracted plenty of interest on board HMS Medway -Credit:Royal Navy/MOD

In preparation, Anglesey Sea Zoo is fundraising for a purpose-built turtle rescue centre, the UK’s first. Frankie is also urging people to look out for shore-stranded turtles and to report them as quickly as possible.

“We want to give every turtle that gets washed up alive the best possible care and the best chance of being re-released into the wild, whatever species it is and wherever in the world it needs to be repatriated to,” she said. "A proper facility will enable this, as we now have the experience and techniques required to rescue and rehabilitate cold-stunned turtles of all species. We also have contacts within the global turtle conservation community to ensure that every turtle gets released back into the wild."

Taking Tonni on the eight-hour drive to Plymouth was zoo director and owner Frankie Hobro and its curator Matt Davidson (left)
Taking Tonni on the eight-hour drive to Plymouth was zoo director and owner Frankie Hobro and its curator Matt Davidson (left) -Credit:Anglesey Sea Zoo

Frankie added: “Stranded turtles often appear dead when found. In fact they might be in a state of torpor, or physiological shut-down, 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.”

If you find a turtle, even if it appears dead and do not touch it or try to return it to the water – Frankie said this is likely to kill it. Instead, report it to Marine Environmental Monitoring (0800 6520 333) or the Anglesey Sea Zoo (01248 430411). A specialist will collect it.

You can donate to the sea zoo’s turtle rescue centre appeal here. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

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