Turtle flown home to Gran Canaria after washing up on Irish beach 3 years ago

Julius Caesar, known as ‘JC’, was discovered on the beach in County Donegal, three years ago weighing just a few hundred grams and suffering from hyperthermia, but has now been flown home to Gran Canaria

Julius Caesar, known as ‘JC’, has been flown home to Gran Canaria after washing up on the shores of Ireland (

Image: Aer Lingus / SWNS)

A loggerhead sea turtle which washed up on the shores of Ireland after getting caught in the wrong current has been flown home to Gran Canaria on a commercial flight – and even had its own boarding pass.

Julius Caesar, known as ‘JC’, was discovered on the beach in County Donegal, three years ago weighing just a few hundred grams and suffering from hyperthermia.

He has remained in the Exploris Aquarium as he grew up, but has now been returned home on a commercial flight to Gran Canaria.

Aer Lingus pilot, Captain Peter Lumsden, said: “It is our pleasure to welcome aboard a very special passenger today and to ensure the safe transportation of JC the Turtle to Gran Canaria.

He was discovered on the chilly beach in County Donegal, three years ago weighing just a few hundred grams
(

Image:

Aer Lingus / SWNS)

He wouldn’t survive traveling in the hold, so was taken inside the cabin
(

Image:

Aer Lingus / SWNS)

“Since they first got in contact, Aer Lingus has worked closely with the team from Exploris Aquarium and our Maintenance & Engineering and Ground Operations teams to ensure that all JC’s needs are met as we complete this important mission.

“Keeping the turtle’s temperature above 19 degrees is critical to his wellbeing and he requires regular monitoring and shell lubrication so placing him in the aircraft hold was not an option.

His specially designed crate will be securely strapped across a number of seats in the cabin
(

Image:

Aer Lingus / SWNS)

Get all the latest news sent to your inbox. Sign up for the free Mirror newsletter

“His specially designed crate will be securely strapped across a number of seats in the cabin.

“Like all of us on the flight today, I’m sure he is looking forward to the warmer climate upon landing.”

In January 2019, weighing a few hundred grams and just nine-months-old, JC is thought to have gotten caught up in the wrong current and swept along the gulf stream.

The pandemic prevented him from his repatriation for three years, however on September 15 the now-25kg reptile was packed into a waterproof crate
(

Image:

Aer Lingus / SWNS)

Loggerhead turtles are endangered and are happiest in warmer climates, so the chilly waters of the North Atlantic put JC’s life in danger.

Fortunately, he was discovered by a local family and taken to Exploris Aquarium in Portaferry, County Down, to recuperate in a tropical tank and tasty snacks of fish mixture, squid and gel.

The pandemic prevented him from his repatriation for three years, however on September 15 the now-25kg reptile was packed into a waterproof crate and boarded flight EI 782 from Dublin to Gran Canaria.

He was accompanied by his minder Portia Sampson who ensured he was safely passed over to the Centro de Recuperación de Fauna Silvestrede Tarifa on arrival.

Less than 24 hours later, JC became fully acclimatised to his new home and was released back into the sea.

Loggerhead turtles are a vulnerable and endangered species and their numbers are in decline in the wild.
(

Image:

Aer Lingus / SWNS)

Aer Lingus previously transported another rogue loggerhead turtle, Leona, to Las Palmas, Gran Canaria in December 2014 after she was discovered in County Clare.

Loggerhead turtles are a vulnerable and endangered species and their numbers are in decline in the wild.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) they are ‘the living representatives of a group of reptiles that has existed on Earth and travelled our seas for the last 100 million years’.