After being swept thousands of miles off course, suffering from cold stunning, and ultimately beached, six weary loggerhead sea turtles found a lifeline aboard a Royal Navy ship en route back to their home in the Azores.
These turtles, typically found in warmer waters far south of the British Isles, were likely displaced by a storm and subsequently rendered lethargic by the frigid temperatures of the North Atlantic. After washing ashore in Cornwall and Devon, they faced the grim prospect of death. Fortunately, rescuers from two local marine sanctuaries stepped in, providing care that helped restore them to health.
Once the turtles were rehabilitated, the caretakers at Newquay Blue Reef Aquarium and Anglesey Sea Zoo faced a dilemma. They couldn’t release the tropical turtles back into the chilly North Atlantic, yet neither facility had the means to transport them across continents.
That’s when the HMS Medway came into play. On a mission to the Caribbean for counternarcotics patrol and disaster relief, the ship made a detour to the Azores.
In addition to its usual cargo of food supplies, spare parts, and aid kits, the Medway welcomed Jason, Gordon, Perran, Hayle, Holly, and Tonni—the six loggerhead turtles—onboard. The ship departed from Plymouth last week, with a brief stop in the Portuguese islands for the turtles’ repatriation.
Rod Jones, the Royal Navy’s Senior Maritime Environmental Protection Adviser, remarked, “As professional mariners, many of us are eager to contribute to reducing biodiversity loss at sea. Encountering marine wildlife is one of the great joys of seafaring, and we’re pleased to assist in ensuring their future presence.”
“While returning turtles to warmer waters may not be our primary mission, as a government body, we are proud to support the UK’s goal of fostering healthier and more diverse seas.”