In the quiet coastal town of Talacre in Northern Wales, a remarkable story of survival and international cooperation unfolded over the course of nearly two years, leading to a massive rescue, rehabilitation, and release effort for a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle named Tally.

It all began in November 2021 when a diligent dog walker, strolling along the shores, stumbled on a stranded and seemingly lifeless sea turtle. Soon to be named Tally, the reptile had been carried far from her usual habitat by the powerful currents of the Gulf Stream. The initial diagnosis was grim, as Tally was reported to the local British Divers Marine Life Rescue as “presumed dead.” However, fate had other plans.

Responding biologist Gem Simmons from the Anglesey Sea Zoo soon realized that Tally was still clinging to life. With determination, Simmons and the zoo’s director, Frankie Hobro, embarked on a months-long journey of intensive care, nursing Tally back to health. As word of Tally’s journey spread, a team of experts and volunteers from both sides of the Atlantic came together to orchestrate her triumphant return to the Gulf of Mexico.

Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are among the smallest and most endangered species of sea turtles, and Texas is at the northern edge of its nesting range, as they are primarily found in the Gulf along the coast of Mexico. According to Mary Kay Skoruppa, the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Texas sea turtle coordinator, the fact that Tally had crossed the Atlantic was a rare occurrence that demanded extraordinary efforts.

“The cold waters of the Northeast Atlantic usually result in certain death for this species of subtropical sea turtles in the winter,” Skoruppa says. “But thanks to the quick response of a great group of international partners and volunteers, Tally was alive and ready to come home.”

To ensure Tally’s safe return, a complex web of logistics was in play. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) imposed regulations to ensure her journey adhered to international wildlife preservation standards. Tally’s travel required a valid CITES import permit, an essential step to gain clearance upon arrival in the US.

The intricacies of transporting an endangered sea turtle across continents were navigated with the help of Turtles Fly Too, an organization specializing in coordinating air travel for endangered sea turtle relocation. According to a press release, Ken Andrews of Turtles Fly Too described this as the “furthest and most complex mission ever flown.”

The UK’s Royal Air Force also played a pivotal role, offering its facilities and expertise to overcome the mission’s unique challenges, and British Airways Captain Chris Sharp and Tom Baker volunteered their piloting skills to ensure Tally’s safe passage back to Texas.

In mid-August, Tally embarked on an aerial transatlantic journey that will forever be etched in history. She was accompanied by Hobro, whose commitment had been instrumental in Tally’s recovery.

“The collaboration between individuals, organizations, and even nations, are giving an endangered creature a second chance at life and is a true testament to the dedication of these wildlife advocates,” Skoruppa says.

Once Tally arrived in the US, her journey was not quite over yet. She was in the care of veterinarians at the Houston Zoo for a short time, where her health was thoroughly assessed. She was then moved to the Texas A&M University at Galveston’s Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research where researchers evaluated her one last time and attached a tracking device to monitor her movements before releasing her back into the Gulf of Mexico.

The end of Tally’s journey was celebrated in Galveston on Tuesday, September 5. The public, along with a group of partners and advocates including Dr. Donna Shaver, the Texas sea turtle stranding coordinator from Padre Island National Seashore, gathered to witness the culmination of their efforts.

“An endangered species is one that is at risk of extinction in the near future, so every individual counts,” Skoruppa says. “We hope that Tally will grow to maturity and return to nest on a Texas beach in a few years to help ensure her species’ survival into the future.”

If you see a sea turtle on a beach or shoreline, the US Fish and Wildlife Service advises the public to quickly report it by calling 1-866-TURTLE-5 (1-866-887-8535).