{"id":10554,"date":"2026-08-10T00:57:44","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T00:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=10554"},"modified":"2026-08-10T00:57:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T00:57:44","slug":"rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mexico-ky-jelly-used-to-protect-skin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=10554","title":{"rendered":"Rare turtle Rhossi rescued near death from Welsh beach in 2023 to fly 5,000 miles home to Gulf of Mexico; KY Jelly used to protect skin"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-133074871,imgsize-92262,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mexico-ky-jelly-used-to-protect-skin.jpg\" alt=\"Rare turtle Rhossi rescued near death from Welsh beach in 2023 to fly 5,000 miles home to Gulf of Mexico; KY Jelly used to protect skin\" title=\"Rare turtle Rhossi rescued near death from Welsh beach in 2023 to fly 5,000 miles home to Gulf of Mexico; KY Jelly used to protect skin (Photo: Anglesey Sea Zoo)\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Rare turtle Rhossi rescued near death from Welsh beach in 2023 to fly 5,000 miles home to Gulf of Mexico; KY Jelly used to protect skin (Photo: Anglesey Sea Zoo)\">Rare turtle Rhossi rescued near death from Welsh beach in 2023 to fly 5,000 miles home to Gulf of Mexico; KY Jelly used to protect skin (Photo: Anglesey Sea Zoo)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A rare sea turtle that washed up on a Welsh beach close to death is now preparing for an extraordinary 5,000-mile journey back to its natural home in the Gulf of Mexico.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"1\"\/>Rhossi, a Kemp\u2019s ridley sea turtle, was found near Rhosneigr on Anglesey in December 2023. <!-- -->He was less than two years old and barely alive after becoming \u201ccold-stunned\u201d from being in waters much colder than his natural habitat.<!-- --> Staff at Anglesey Sea Zoo have spent more than two years nursing him back to health.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/>Now, conservationists are preparing to fly Rhossi across the Atlantic in a carefully coordinated operation. His journey will begin with a helicopter flight from Anglesey to London, followed by a cargo flight to Houston, Texas, before he is returned to the wild.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"10\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>KY Jelly and Vaseline will protect Rhossi during the journey<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>Because Rhossi normally lives in the sea, travelling out of water presents a major challenge. Staff will need to keep his skin, shell and eyes lubricated throughout the journey to prevent dehydration and damage.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"13\"\/>Matt Davidson, curator of Anglesey Sea Zoo, told the publication that staff will use KY Jelly to protect Rhossi\u2019s delicate skin.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"15\"\/>\u201cFor his skin, we use KY Jelly \u2014 better known as a sex lubricant \u2014 because it\u2019s gentle on the eyes,\u201d Davidson said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/>He explained that the turtle\u2019s shell will also be covered in Vaseline to prevent it from drying out and flaking.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"20\"\/>\u201cWe have to make sure that the shell is really well lubricated, so we spread Vaseline all over to stop it drying out and flaking off,\u201d Davidson said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"22\"\/>\u201cThe same for the skin \u2014 it\u2019s really delicate \u2014 and especially the eyes, which both have to be lubricated before he goes into the crate and again just before takeoff, or he will start to peel like someone getting sunburned.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"25\"\/>The unusual preparations have even led to some awkward moments at the chemist.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"27\"\/>\u201cBut I have had to go to the checkout in a chemist\u2019s with about eight tubes of KY Jelly and three tubs of Vaseline and explain what\u2019s happening when I get strange looks,\u201d Davidson said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"29\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Rhossi was found by a dog on a Welsh beach<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Rare turtle Rhossi is preparing for a 5,000-mile journey from Wales back to the Gulf of Mexico after more than two years of rehabilitation.\" msid=\"133074883\" width=\"\" title=\"Rare turtle Rhossi is preparing for a 5,000-mile journey from Wales back to the Gulf of Mexico after more than two years of rehabilitation. (Photo: Anglesey Sea Zoo)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" imgsize=\"\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-133074883\/rare-turtle-rhossi-is-preparing-for-a-5000-mile-journey-from-wales-back-to-the-gulf-of-mexico-after-more-than-two-years-of-rehabilitation.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Rare turtle Rhossi is preparing for a 5,000-mile journey from Wales back to the Gulf of Mexico after more than two years of rehabilitation. (Photo: Anglesey Sea Zoo)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"32\"\/>Rhossi got his name after being discovered near Rhosneigr on Anglesey by a dog named Meg, who was out walking with her owner in December 2023.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"34\"\/>At the time, the young turtle was in a state conservationists describe as \u201ccold-stunned\u201d, meaning his body temperature had dropped dangerously low after prolonged exposure to water much colder than his usual environment.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"37\"\/>According to the report, staff at Anglesey Sea Zoo believe Rhossi may have lost his way while swimming in warmer waters because of strong winds.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"39\"\/>Since his rescue, he has undergone a remarkable recovery. Over the past two-and-a-half years, Rhossi has tripled in size, growing from less than 1kg to around 21kg.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"41\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>\u2018Cold-stunned turtles rarely survive without specialist help\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>Frankie Hobro, owner of Anglesey Sea Zoo, told the BBC that staff initially did not know whether Rhossi would survive.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"45\"\/>\u201cCold-stunned turtles rarely survive without specialist help &#8211; we didn&#8217;t know if he would make it in the first week or two,\u201d Hobro said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"47\"\/>The team is now preparing to release him back into the wild, a moment that is expected to be both rewarding and emotional after years of caring for him.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"49\"\/>\u201cTurtles belong in the wild, not in captivity, so it\u2019s incredibly emotional because this is what we\u2019ve been working towards for more than two years,\u201d Hobro told the publication.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"52\"\/>\u201cBut we have got to know him and his individual quirks while caring for him, and we know that soon, a little piece of us is going to be swimming off into the Caribbean Sea, and we\u2019ll never see him again.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"54\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Kemp\u2019s ridley is the world\u2019s rarest sea turtle<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>Kemp\u2019s ridley sea turtles are considered the rarest sea turtle species in the world. They lay their eggs on only two beaches, in Mexico and Texas in the United States.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"58\"\/>Rhossi\u2019s return to the wild is being seen as a small but significant step towards the conservation of the species.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"61\"\/>He is the fourth sea turtle to have been rescued and rehabilitated by Anglesey Sea Zoo over the past decade. According to the report, staff are also planning to build a dedicated turtle rescue centre to care for other sea turtles that become cold-stunned around the Welsh coast.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/science\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mexico-ky-jelly-used-to-protect-skin\/articleshow\/133074835.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rare turtle Rhossi rescued near death from Welsh beach in 2023 to fly 5,000 miles home to Gulf of Mexico; KY Jelly used to protect skin (Photo: Anglesey Sea Zoo) A rare sea turtle that washed up on a Welsh beach close to death is now preparing for an extraordinary 5,000-mile journey back to its [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10555,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex-150x150.avif","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex-300x169.avif","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex.avif","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex.avif","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex.avif","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex.avif","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex.avif","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex.avif","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex.avif","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex.avif","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex.avif","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex.avif","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex.avif","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex.avif"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Rare turtle Rhossi rescued near death from Welsh beach in 2023 to fly 5,000 miles home to Gulf of Mexico; KY Jelly used to protect skin (Photo: Anglesey Sea Zoo) A rare sea turtle that washed up on a Welsh beach close to death is now preparing for an extraordinary 5,000-mile journey back to its [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":3,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":4,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex.avif",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex-300x169.avif",300,169,true],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rare-turtle-rhossi-rescued-near-death-from-welsh-beach-in-2023-to-fly-5000-miles-home-to-gulf-of-mex-150x150.avif",150,150,true]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10554"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10554\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}