Latest news with #DingleOceanworld
Sunday World
6 days ago
- Science
- Sunday World
Rare green sea turtle found freezing to death on Irish beach back home in the Canaries
Named Solstice by her rescuers, she was found with severe hypothermia, among other illnesses, washed up on a beach on Christmas Eve A rare green sea turtle was found freezing to death on an Irish beach is settling into her new, warmer home in the Canaries. Named Solstice by her rescuers, she's now back swimming in her natural habitat, according to Spanish media, who have welcomed her home. On Christmas Eve of last year, Solstice was found with severe hypothermia, among other illnesses, washed up on a beach by a woman who runs a hedgehog sanctuary in Quilty, Co Clare. She brought her to the team at Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium in Daingean Uí Chúis, who established that the turtle was suffering from pneumonia and meningitis, likely brought on by the shock of the cold Atlantic waters. Solstice is back home News in 90 Seconds - May 28th Further inspection revealed bite marks on the turtle's shell, likely inflicted by a seal or shark. The turtle was fed with prawns and squids and treated with antibiotics and after six months being cared for in the aquarium, she gained strength and around 2kg. Speaking ahead of her release, Director of Dingle Oceanworld Kevin Flannery said Solstice was embarking on a journey with Aer Lingus to Gran Canaria, where a dedicated wildlife rescue team was ready to assist in returning her to the wild. "We are not exactly sure where Solstice came from, but we assume it was the Gulf of Mexico," Mr Flannery said. He said that the turtle would be tagged before its release. "The American Marine Research Centre - Woods Hole, it's called - they have found an island off of the African coast, where these green turtles come ashore and lay their eggs. So it may be from there. We don't know but I'm hopeful it is, and that with the tag, we'll be able to see where it's going," said Mr Flannery. The young turtle, which would normally swim in tropical or subtropical waters, was probably taken by northbound currents before being washed up almost dead in Co Clare, Pascual Calabuig, a vet and biologist from the fauna conservation centre in Gran Canaria, told Reuters. Having been flown by Aer Lingus to Melenara Beach in Gran Canaria, where she was released, Solstice is now in an ideal ecosystem for this species, 'which lives in tropical and subtropical climates and requires vegetation very similar to that found at the bottom of warmer waters', according to experts. Although classified as endangered, green sea turtles, who take their name from the colour of their fat, not the colour of their shell, are fairly common around the Canary archipelago. They can live up to 90 years in the wild and grow up to five feet.
Irish Examiner
25-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
First-time father penguin 'not coming back to the nest' to help with endangered chicks
Three endangered Humboldt penguin chicks have hatched at Dingle Oceanworld, but one new dad is struggling with his parental duties. While the arrival of the chicks is being celebrated in Kerry, aquarists have had to step in to assist with the care of one chick after its father, Gary, repeatedly failed to return to the nest from swims in the pool. 'They've arrived in the past three weeks,' the director of Dingle Oceanworld, Kevin Flannery, said. 'They're little balls of grey fluff. They only weighed a few grams when they were born.' The chicks are a welcome addition to the colony of Humboldt penguins, largely named after different types of cheese, which was established at the aquarium in 2019. Humboldts are among the world's most at-risk penguin species and are listed as "vulnerable to extinction" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). New responsibilities While two of the new penguin couples have proved to be devoted parents, Gary has been reluctant to take on his new responsibilities. 'Gary has a tendency to wander off', said the marine biologist. He was not coming back to the nest to help the mother, Wensdale. He wasn't making a good daddy. He's only five and is a first-time dad 'He enjoyed having a swim too often in the pool, and the mother was left virtually on her own.' Head aquarist Marie Kelly stepped in to assist with feeding after noticing the male penguin was ignoring Wensdale's calls for help. 'She would go in every four hours with a fish paste in a baby's bottle, which was open at the top. The mother would stay there sometimes, and other times she would go to the pool while Marie was feeding the chick. Maria Foley, of Dingle Oceanworld, looks after one of the baby chicks. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD 'She spent around two weeks doing this every four hours, but the chick is flying it now — although I suppose that's the wrong word for a penguin — it's thriving now. 'He's a young father, he didn't know ... or maybe he did, and just liked being in the pool all the time. Once the eggs were there and the nest was made, he virtually abandoned ship Mr Flannery said it has been fascinating to observe the different parenting styles among the penguin pairs. 'It's a whole learning process of parenthood in the penguins that we've seen through observation. It's interesting to see some human traits coming through," he said. 'It should be every second turn. One goes off fishing, another comes back, and then the other will probably go off fishing again. They have to maintain the nest and they have to maintain the safety of the chick in it because, in the wild you, would have plenty of predators." Shared duties Chicks are also at risk of being taken by females who have no chicks of their own. 'We've noticed other females will come along and pick at the chick, or maybe try and take the chick for themselves," Mr Flannery added. Other penguins in the outdoor enclosure, who were more experienced parents, happily shared the chick-minding duties. 'The other parents were brilliant. The dad would wander off, and when the mother needed him, she'd give a squeal and he'd come back. But they were being very good, they would just run over and it was not an issue." There are currently six couples among the 16 Humboldt penguins in the colony, with three of them breeding this year. Read More Prague Zoo joins bid to ensure survival of rare insect once considered extinct
The Irish Sun
23-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
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. 3 Aer Lingus helped to save one turtle who travelled too far Credit: 3 Solstice embarked on her journey home from Ireland Credit: 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. READ MORE ON TRAVEL 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.' Most read in Travel 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. 3 Aer Lingus have helped save numerous turtles over the years Credit:
RTÉ News
22-05-2025
- RTÉ News
On a wing and a prayer: Turtle on flight home after rehab
An endangered sea turtle, that washed up on Ireland's shores last Christmas in ill health, is being flown to Gran Canaria where she will be released back into the wild - and warmer - waters of her natural habitat. Solstice the turtle was discovered washed up on a beach on Christmas Eve 2024 by a woman who runs a hedgehog sanctuary in Quilty, Co Clare. The woman reached out to the team at Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium in Daingean Uí Chúis, who determined that the turtle was suffering from pneumonia and meningitis, likely brought on by the shock of the cold Atlantic waters. Further inspection revealed bite marks on the turtle's shell, likely inflicted by a seal or shark. While in the aquarium, the turtle gained strength and around 2kg, after being treated with antibiotics and being fed. Speaking earlier this week, Director of Dingle Oceanworld Kevin Flannery said Solstice is ready for her release after nearly five months of treatment in Ireland. Solstice is now embarking on a journey with Aer Lingus to Gran Canaria, where a dedicated wildlife rescue team will assist in returning her to the wild. "We are not exactly sure where Solstice came from, but we assume it was the Gulf of Mexico," Mr Flannery said. He said earlier in the week that the turtle would be tagged before its release. "The American Marine Research Centre - Woods Hole, it's called - they have found an island off of the African coast, where these green turtles come ashore and lay their eggs. So it may be from there. We don't know but I'm hopeful it is, and that with the tag, we'll be able to see where it's going," said Mr Flannery. Donal Moriarty, Aer Lingus Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, said: "Aer Lingus is proud to support the team at Dingle Oceanworld in their remarkable efforts to give Solstice a second chance. Every measure has been taken to ensure Solstice's safety and comfort as she travels with Aer Lingus to Gran Canaria. "Solstice has her own assigned seat, right next to her carer, and a specially designed container that has been fitted safely by our engineering team to ensure a smooth journey. "Green sea turtles are an endangered species and this vital conservation effort provides Solstice with the opportunity to recover and flourish, helping to safeguard the future of her species," added Mr Moriarty. Once Solstice touches down in Gran Canaria, an official from Tarifa Wildlife Recovery Centre will be on hand to begin her re-adaptation to her environment, with the goal of releasing her back into the wild.
