Rhossi’s Road Home: One More Step Toward the Gulf
Houston Zoo Treats Internationally Stranded Sea Turtle
It’s a tale two years in the making involving a helicopter ride from Wales to Heathrow, a transatlantic flight to Houston, and a long-awaited homecoming for Rhossi, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and one of the most endangered sea turtles in the world. After making the 5,000-mile journey to Texas, Rhossi is settling into his new surroundings while Houston Zoo’s veterinary team takes a closer look at his overall health before determining his next steps.
This week Rhossi underwent a comprehensive medical exam led by renowned senior veterinarian Dr. Joe Flanagan, who briefly came out of retirement to treat the sea turtle. It included a check of organ function, eyes, mouth, shell and flippers along with x-rays and a CT scan to take a closer look at his lungs. While Rhossi appeared healthy, active and vigorous, his scans revealed a concern for lingering pneumonia. Rhossi’s medical team will continue to monitor him and provide additional treatment, as needed, to ensure the best possible chance of a successful return to the wild.
Rhossi’s survival story started on a Welsh Beach in December 2023 when a local dog discovered the tiny two-pound turtle 5,000 miles away from home. Cold-stunned from the dangerously cold north Atlantic waters, Rhossi was taken in by the team at Anglesey Sea Zoo who stepped in and spent the last two years nursing him back to health. In that time, he grew stronger and more than tripled in size tipping the scale at 46 pounds. Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are native to the Gulf of Mexico but can occasionally be swept into powerful ocean currents and carried thousands of miles across the Atlantic.
After years of care in Wales, Rhossi finally made his way home to Texas on August 10, marking the beginning of new chapter. Upon his arrival, he was assessed by Houston Zoo’s sea turtle staff and veterinarian at the airport and taken to the Zoo, where he was placed in a deep-water tank to acclimate to his new surroundings. As he settled in, the veterinary and animal care teams worked together to better understand how he was doing and what he would need to continue his journey home.
Rhossi’s journey highlights the incredible dedication and careful coordination of the multiple agencies and non-profit organizations including U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Anglesey Sea Zoo, Houston Zoo, Texas State Aquarium and Welsh helicopter pilot Darren Briggs. Together, they have supported Rhossi through an extraordinary journey spanning two continents.
While his return to the Gulf of Mexico will take a little longer than expected, Rhossi’s story is a testament to the power of collaboration and compassion in wildlife conservation. For now, the focus remains on getting this resilient sea turtle healthy and ready for his long-awaited return home.
Houston Zoo guests help save wild sea turtles every time they visit Houston Zoo. A portion of each membership and ticket goes toward supporting the Zoo’s sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation program.
Anytime a sea turtle is found on a beach or shoreline, members of the public are urged to quickly report it by calling 1-866-TURTLE-5 (1-866-887-8535) so an expert with Houston Zoo or our sea turtle conservation partner, the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research at Texas A&M University Galveston Campus, can assess the turtle and provide care if needed.
