A rare turtle that washed ashore in Jersey in Storm Goretti has finally been given the all-clear for release after a long recovery that began on the Island before being flown to a specialist facility.
Crush the turtle was found on Jersey beach in January and was treated at New Era Veterinary Hospital before being flown to the UK for treatment at a sealife centre in Weymouth.
Loggerhead turtles typically live in much warmer waters and are rarely found in the Channel Islands, but powerful storms and ocean currents can disorientate them and lead to a condition called cold stunning, where prolonged exposure to colder climates causes their bodies to shut down.
After she was rescued, Crush was taken to New Era Veterinary Hospital, where vets and animal care staff worked around the clock to help her recover. The team tried to warm her up, improve her strength and help her regain weight.
As Crush became stronger, experts decided she needed specialist care at Sealife Weymouth, and, because she could not be taken by ferry, Loganair got special permission to take her on board a passenger flight.
Now it has confirmed that after seven months of rest and rehabilitation – that has seen her undergo CT scans, regular blood tests, ongoing veterinary assessments, alongside a carefully managed diet – Crush has been given the all-clear for release.
The sealife centre added: “We’re now working with our conservation partners to make the final preparations, including organising transport by air to warmer waters where Crush will have the best possible chance of thriving back in the wild.
“We are incredibly proud of our team for their dedication and care to Crush’s recovery. Thank you also to the hundreds of well-wishes from supporters around the world who have been following Crush’s story. We’ll be sharing the release journey with you soon.”
