Saved turtle flies back to holiday isle

A RARE olive ridley turtle has flown with holidaymakers to Gran Canaria to be released into the wild.

The warm-water creature, found washed ashore on an Anglesey beach in November, was the first of its kind reported in UK seas.

She had lung damage but was nursed back to health by carers at Anglesey Sea Zoo, who named her Menai.

This week Menai, who scoffs around 4.5lb of squid a day, was put on a charter flight from Manchester and after a few weeks she will be released further south in the Atlantic.

Zoo boss Frankie Horbo said the fact Menai “is fit for release into the wild is nothing short of a miracle”.

The conservation status of ridleys, who live in tropical waters, is vulnerable.

DIRE STRAITS Rare Menai