Traveling Thousands Of Kilometers From Maldives To Scotland, Olive Ridley Turtle Is Ready To Live A New Life

Olive Ridley Turtle illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Ari hidayat11)

JAKARTA - The Olive Ridley turtle with its missing fin has embarked on a life-changing journey to the Scottish Highlands.

April, as she is now known, traveled by plane from the Turtle Rehabilitation Center in the Maldives to the SEA LIFE Aquarium in Loch Lomond, Scotland, a journey of more than 8000 kilometers.

Despite efforts to return it to the wild, the severe injuries caused by plastic pollution in the ocean have left it in dire need of a long-term home.

And when Scottish facilities heard about his plight, they wanted to welcome him with open arms.

"We are very pleased to welcome April to the Loch Lomond family," said Kathryn Angel, General Manager of SEA LIFE Aquarium, citing Euronews on December 22.

"Having turtles at our facility is once again a real pleasure," continued Angel.

When April was first spotted by members of Marine Savers, a marine conservation team based at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives, she was floating on the ocean surface, entangled in a net.

She had already lost her right front fin, while her left front fin was injured by a plastic bag. Despite the loving care April received at the Center, ongoing buoyancy issues made a return to the wild impossible.

Instead, the Marine Savers Flying Turtle Project arranged for April to fly to her new home in England.

The trip across the continent sees April leaving the Maldives by speedboat, traveling by plane to Glasgow, before receiving a traditional bagpipe welcome at Loch Lomond.

"We are extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of our team, ensuring the amazing creatures in our waters are cared for and lead happy, harm-free lives, and April is another example of this," Angel said.

"We are very excited to introduce him to our guests once he is completely comfortable in his new environment."