Houston Zoo treats endangered sea turtle rescued in Wales ahead of return to Gulf
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Houston Zoo announced on Friday that it welcomed a new resident: a sea turtle named Rhossi, who was rescued in Wales in 2023.
According to the Houston Zoo, Rhossi is a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, one of the most endangered sea turtle species in the world.
The Zoo said that Rhossi was discovered on a Welsh beach in December 2023, weighing just two pounds. Zoo officials said that Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are native to the Gulf but can sometimes be swept into powerful ocean currents and carried miles across the Atlantic. Rhossi, who was 5,00 miles away from home, was cold-stunned from the dangerously cold North Atlantic waters, the Houston Zoo said.
Rhossi was initially treated at the Anglesey Sea Zoo, where he spent the next two years being nursed back to health by its veterinary team. Zoo officials said Rhossi tripled in size and grew stronger during treatment.
The Houston Zoo said Rhossi made his way home to Southeast Texas on Aug. 10 after a transatlantic flight from Wales. When Rhossi arrived, the Houston Zoo's sea turtle staff assessed him and placed him in a deep water tank to acclimate to the new environment. Rhossi has since undergone medical exams and is being treated for a lingering case of pneumonia, the Houston Zoo said.
Zoo officials said they are continuing to monitor Rhossi and rebuild his strength, preparing him for his eventual return home to the Gulf.
