A rare Kemp's ridley sea turtle has been flown from Wales to its home in the Caribbean Sea, via Texas, after being found washed up on a Welsh shore.
The Kemp's ridley sea turtle is a species that is native to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, making its appearance in Wales a significant distance from its usual habitat.
It is not clear how the turtle ended up in Wales, but it is believed that strong currents or storms may have played a role in its journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
The turtle's flight to Texas was the first leg of its journey back to the Caribbean Sea, where it will be released back into the wild.
Conservation efforts are in place to protect the Kemp's ridley sea turtle, which is listed as an endangered species due to threats such as habitat loss and entanglement in fishing nets.
The successful transportation of the turtle is a positive step for the conservation of this rare species, and it is hoped that it will thrive back in its natural habitat.
<small>Source: BBC Science — read the original story there.</small>
