Aer Lingus flies VIP passenger home in ‘full health' after incredible journey to Ireland from Gran Canaria
AER Lingus has helped a young sea turtle head home to Gran Canaria after she was discovered in Irish waters on Christmas Eve.
The airline welcomed a green turtle named Solstice aboard their flight yesterday.
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Aer Lingus helped to save one turtle who travelled too far
Credit: x.com
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Solstice embarked on her journey home from Ireland
Credit: x.com
Turtles love to
Solstice was believed to be swept up by the cold current and apart from the hypothermia, the winter waters shocked her as she was also suffering from meningitis.
One woman from the Hogsprickle Rescue in Co.
And now thanks to the many combined efforts from the expert team at Dingle Oceanworld and Tarifa Wildlife Recovery Centre, Solstice will find sanctuary in the sun.
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Director of Dingle Oceanworld Kevin Flannery admired the young turtles bravery as she came into their care.
He said: "Solstice is a real survivor and has shown real resilience to overcome both pneumonia and meningitis.
"We estimate that Solstice is between 5 and 8 years old which is very young given that green sea turtles live up to 90 years.
"Given her long potential lifespan, it was crucial that we did everything possible to return her to her native waters.'
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This is not the first time
Aer Lingus offered me major perks to stay extra night in New York
And again in 2014, a little sea friend named Leona, also a loggerhead turtle, was transported back to Gran Canaria.
HAPPY LIFE
Solstice weighed in at 3 kg when she arrived and was 30 cm in length.
Sea turtles are expected to reach 100 kg by the time they become adults but need their natural habitat with a warm shore to get there.
In advance of the flight to Gran Canaria on May 22, Aer Lingus Chief Technical Pilot, Captain Conor Barrett, aided by colleagues in Ground Ops, Maintenance, and Flight Operations, worked closely with the team at Dingle Oceanworld to carefully plan for Solstice's journey home.
As green turtles are endangered, Solstice travelled in style.
With custom
Solstice was taken to Tarifa Wildlife Recovery Centre to begin her readaptation to her environment, with the goal of releasing her back into the wild.
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Aer Lingus have helped save numerous turtles over the years
Credit: x.com
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