A loggerhead turtle has gotten lost and crossed the Atlantic, washing up on the coast of a Scottish isle.
The young turtle, which is far more at home in tropical waters, washed up on a beach on the Isle of Iona west of Scotland.
A member of the public found the turtle on the beach and called upon the help of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR).
Once collected, a medic checked the animal over on the isle of Mull. It was transported by ferry to the mainland, where it was delivered to the Loch Lomond Sea Life Centre for rehabilitation.
Loggerheads are not ordinarily present in the cold water of the coast of Scotland, and experts doubt whether the cold-blooded animal would have survived if it had not been rescued.
According to the BDMLR in the Independent newspaper:
“If they survive — that’s a big ‘if,’ as often they are already too far gone — then they are returned to the wild in places such as the Canary Islands. This turtle will have to have its body temperature increased very gradually to avoid thermal shock, so the water temperature will be adjusted incrementally.”
