A RARE turtle discovered in a critical state by a father and daughter in Donegal earlier this month is making a steady recovery following an extraordinary journey to the west coast of Ireland.
The young loggerhead turtle is believed to have been carried hundreds of miles from its natural habit in the mid-Atlantic after getting lost and swept away by the Gulf Stream.
Juvenile loggerhead turtles tend to reside in the middle of the Atlantic where the warm waters and plentiful food make for ideal living conditions.
They usually don’t return to shores until they are approximately seven to 12 years old.
When the animal was first found on Sunday, January 13th, it was said to be in a serious condition which was the result of cold stunning.
Cold stunning is a type of hypothermic reaction that occurs when sea turtles are exposed to prolonged cold-water temperatures.
Symptoms include decreased heart rate, decreased circulation, and lethargy and can lead to shock, pneumonia and possibly death.
But this turtle, who has been dubbed ‘Julius Caesar’ or ‘JC’ for short by the family that came to his rescue, is now showing signs of recovery.
Vulnerable Loggerhead Turtle in care at Exploris Aquarium...
Found washed up in Co.Donegal the loggerhead turtle is currently receiving treatment and around the clock care. More information will be released as the situation develops.https://t.co/AfN4fAcgyF pic.twitter.com/125oNm9bsk— Exploris Aquarium (@ExplorisNI) January 18, 2019
Named after the Roman emperor because of his fighting spirit, Julius has received round-the-clock treatment from the seal rescue team at Exploris Aquarium.
They travelled five hours from their Portaferry base to come to the aid of the loggerhead turtle.
Julius’ temperature is now within a normal range and he is being treated with a course of antibiotics that should help him get back to full fitness.
Though there is still a long way to go and Julius has yet to begin eating again, the initial signs are good.
Despite the rarity of seeing this type of turtle on Irish shores, JC isn’t yet well enough to be seen by visitors.
Peter Williams, the aquarium curator, meanwhile, has urged anyone walking along the coast in Ireland to stay vigilant.
"We would like to take this opportunity to tell the public to keep their eyes peeled for anymore loggerheads which may be in our seas.
"If you come across anything please get in touch with Exploris Aquarium immediately on 028 4272 8062".
