Rare turtle Tally starts 4,000 mile journey to Texas

RAF Valley in Anglesey and RAF Northolt in London are assisting in the extraordinary relay that will result in the rehabilitation of one of the world’s most endangered animals back into the wild and to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

RAF Valley provided a police escort from the Sea Zoo to RAF Valley. (Image: Image submitted by RAF Valley)

Kemp's ridley sea turtle Tally, who was cared for by Anglesey Sea Zoo Director Frankie Hobro and her team, was collected in the early hours of this morning (August 30). 

RAF Valley provided a police escort from Sea Zoo to RAF Valley and then a team of volunteer pilots transfered Tally from RAF Valley to RAF Northolt for onward transit to Heathrow.

Tally has been recovering at Anglesey Sea Zoo. She was collected from the sea zoo this morning (August 30). (Image: Images submitted by RAF Valley)

She will be put on a scheduled flight to Texas ahead of release.

RAF Valley have shared images of the unique mission.

Photographs were taken between 1am and 3am this morning. They show Tally being escorted from Anglesey Sea Zoo by RAF Police convoy to RAF Valley and then being loaded onto the aircraft for the onward flight to RAF Northolt and then Heathrow.

Anglesey Sea Zoo vehicle at the RAF Valley airfield (Image: Images submitted by RAF Valley)

The turtle was dubbed 'Tally' in honour of her link to Talacre; she was found on Talacre beach near Prestatyn nearly two years ago. Tally was found in a state of cold shock. She was transferred to Anglesey Sea Zoo after being recovered by British Divers Marine Life Rescue expert Gem Simmons, who now acts as an unpaid conservation advisor to RAF Valley.

The RAF agreed to assist in the key stage of the rehabilitation following a request by  Anglesey Sea Zoo and wildlife protection organisations in the United States.

Tally boards the plane at RAF Valley on Anglesey (Image: All images submitted by RAF Valley)

US turtle rescue charity Director Ken Andrews describes the repatriation effort as the "furthest and most complex repatriation effort they have ever been involved in”.

He said: "We are indebted to the RAF for their valuable time and assistance here, both in applying their military planning and logistical skills to this operation and in providing practical help in ensuring the best prospects for the animal by allowing it to fly from RAF Valley, as a road move of the animal overland would have added considerably to the animal’s stress levels and disruption."

A few words are spoken before Tally starts her journey. (Image: All images submitted by RAF Valley)

Group Captain Matt Hoare, RAF Valley’s Station Commander, said: “This is clearly not core Royal Air Force business, but my team here at Valley have been delighted to assist with this most worthy venture. It is probably worth noting that the repatriation means that Valley (and RAF Northolt) would have played a small part in helping save what the lead US turtle rescue charity described to us this morning as one of the most endangered of all sea turtles in the world’s oceans, with only 1 in 1000 making it to Tally’s age; indeed, it would difficult to imagine a more threatened animal.

Tally gets ready to for take off (Image: Images submitted by RAF Valley)

"We look forward to being able to monitor its progress.”

Acting Sergeant Beth Roberts, who has been involved in planning this from the start, said: “It has given us all a spring in our step to know we are helping in this way and it has been a privilege to work with these other international agencies, wildlife charities and Anglesey Sea Zoo - to assist with this worthwhile project.”

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• RAF assists in repatriation of rehabilitated sea turtle Tally

Mary Kay Skoruppa, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Texas Sea Turtle Coordinator, said: “Thanks to the response of a great group of international partners and volunteers, Tally is alive and ready to come home.”

Outside the Anglesey Sea Zoo during the early hours of the morning. The RAF worked with international agencies, wildlife charities and Anglesey Sea Zoo (Image: All images submitted by RAF Valley)

Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the smallest and one of the most endangered species of sea turtles in the world. Though primarily found in the Gulf of Mexico and coastal waters of eastern North America, juvenile Kemp’s ridleys sometimes get swept up in the powerful Gulf Stream and are carried all the way across the Atlantic.

If all goes well, the international team of partners along with Dr. Donna Shaver, the Texas Sea Turtle Stranding Coordinator from Padre Island National Seashore, are planning to meet in Galveston to celebrate Tally’s release back into the wild in early September.