Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Rescue Turtle Rhossi Recovers Slowly After Atlantic Journey
Rhossi is a young sea turtle that was carried far away from his warm ocean home.
Ocean currents took him from the Gulf of Mexico to the much colder waters near Wales.
He was found very weak on a beach in December 2023.
The cold made his body slow down dangerously, and he also had pneumonia.
Workers at a Welsh sea zoo cared for him and helped him grow much stronger.
He later traveled by helicopter and airplane to the Houston Zoo in Texas.
Zoo staff say he is active, swimming, diving, and breathing normally.
However, tests show that some pneumonia remains.
Doctors will keep treating and watching him before deciding when he can return to the Gulf.
Rhossi, a young Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, was swept more than 8,000 kilometres from the Gulf of Mexico to Wales.
A dog and beachgoers found him stranded on a Welsh beach in December 2023, suffering severe cold-stunning and pneumonia.
After rehabilitation at Anglesey Sea Zoo, Rhossi grew from about one kilogram to approximately 21 kilograms.
He arrived at the Houston Zoo on August 10 and was placed in a deep-water tank to acclimate.
Rhossi appears active and healthy, but scans found lingering pneumonia that is delaying his return to the wild.
- Who
- Rhossi, a young Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, along with veterinary teams, wildlife agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
- What
- Rhossi is recovering from a long journey, severe cold-stunning, and lingering pneumonia while preparing for a possible return to the wild.
- When
- He was found in December 2023 and arrived at the Houston Zoo on August 10; the year of his arrival is not specified.
- Where
- He was found on a beach near Rhosneigr, Wales, rehabilitated at Anglesey Sea Zoo, and is now at the Houston Zoo in Texas.
- Why
- Powerful ocean currents swept him thousands of kilometres from the Gulf of Mexico into the cold North Atlantic.
- Species
- Kemp’s ridley sea turtle
- Distance from home
- More than 8,000 kilometres, or approximately 5,000 miles
- Discovery
- Found on a Welsh beach in December 2023
- Weight change
- About 1 kilogram when found; approximately 21 kilograms after rehabilitation
- Current location
- Houston Zoo, Texas
- Medical concern
- Lingering pneumonia detected through X-rays and a CT scan
- Planned outcome
- Continued treatment and rehabilitation before a possible return to the Gulf of Mexico
