August 13, 2026 - 187 views
Rhossi the turtle has finally arrived in Houston – taking another huge step towards returning to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico after an extraordinary journey which began on a beach in Anglesey.
The critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle has travelled around 5,000 miles from North Wales to Texas, more than two and a half years after he was found cold-stunned on a beach at Rhosneigr in December 2023.
Rhossi was discovered in a severely weakened condition after being swept far from the warm waters where his species normally lives.
He was taken into the care of the Anglesey Sea Zoo, where staff spent more than two years nursing him back to health. The Sea Zoo says Kemp’s ridley turtles are the rarest species of sea turtle in the world and that Rhossi needed to be returned to the Gulf of Mexico to give him the best chance of survival.
Now, after an extraordinary international conservation effort, Rhossi has reached Houston.
His arrival marks an important milestone – but there are still a few more checks before he can finally be released into the wild.
After completing the long journey in a specially prepared crate, Rhossi was taken to the Houston Zoo, where veterinary specialists carried out a comprehensive examination.
That included X-rays, a CT scan and blood tests to make sure he is fit enough to continue his journey.
Early indications are positive, although vets spotted some changes on his X-rays which could be evidence of previous pneumonia – something cold-stunned turtles can be particularly susceptible to.
The results are now being reviewed by specialist veterinary radiologists. If Rhossi receives the all-clear, he will spend several days in quarantine at the Houston Zoo before being transferred to the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi.
He is then expected to be released into the Gulf of Mexico off Padre Island, with the release currently planned for next Tuesday, subject to the final veterinary clearance.
Rhossi's story began in December 2023 when he washed ashore at Rhosneigr.
Kemp’s ridley turtles are normally found in the Gulf of Mexico and along parts of the Atlantic coast, so finding one thousands of miles away in North Wales was an extraordinary event.
The Gulf Stream is believed to have played a part in carrying Rhossi across the Atlantic before he became stranded in the much colder waters around Wales.
Cold-stunning is potentially fatal for sea turtles. Their bodies can effectively shut down in extremely cold water, leaving them unable to swim or feed properly and making them vulnerable to drowning and predators.
The Anglesey Sea Zoo team provided the specialist care needed to gradually bring Rhossi's body temperature back up and begin the long rehabilitation process.
The Sea Zoo has developed considerable experience in rescuing cold-stranded turtles. It previously cared for Tally, another Kemp’s ridley, which was successfully returned to the Gulf of Mexico in 2023 after a similarly remarkable journey.
Getting Rhossi home has involved organisations and specialists on both sides of the Atlantic, with complicated permits, veterinary checks and transport arrangements required before the journey could even begin.
The Anglesey Sea Zoo says delays in securing the necessary US support and licensing added to the wait, meaning Rhossi remained in North Wales for considerably longer than originally hoped.
Now, with Houston behind him, there is just one final stage of his extraordinary story.
For the team at Anglesey Sea Zoo, seeing Rhossi back in the region where his species belongs will be an emotional moment after more than two years of care.
And for Rhossi, if the final veterinary checks go to plan, his next journey should be considerably shorter – from Texas to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, where he can finally begin life in the wild.
