Turtle returns to sea after 22 years at Kerry aquarium - RTE.ie

After spending twenty-two years living in a shark tank at the Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium, a loggerhead sea turtle affectionately known as the “queen of the shark tank” has been released back into the wild. Molly was set free into the Atlantic Ocean from a naval ship twelve nautical miles off the Portuguese coast, as reported by rté.ie.

From a Kerry Beach to the Open Atlantic

Molly first arrived at the County Kerry aquarium in 2004 after washing up on a local beach with severe injuries to her flippers. At the time, she weighed just 20 kilograms. Aquarium staff noted that the damage was extensive for such a young turtle, likely caused by a boat’s propeller blade or a shark bite.

Maria Foley, who has worked with Molly for the last twelve years, recalled the turtle’s long tenure at the facility during an interview on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme.

Molly was probably the largest turtle that we got into our aquarium in the last 22 years. I can safely say she was always known as the queen of the shark tank. Everyone always came back to see Molly. Ms Foley

Over the past decade, European sea turtle stranding groups accumulated significant research showing that turtles missing two to three flippers can successfully navigate back to their original nesting sites.

The Release and Next Steps

Preparation for the journey began aboard the naval vessel. According to aquarium staff, the moment Molly was placed into a transport box at the rear of the ship, her behavior shifted dramatically as she grew noticeably more active and prepared for release.

When the front hatch opened, she simply walked off the ramp and directly into the water. Because sea turtles are biologically programmed to return to their birthplaces, researchers have fitted Molly with a satellite tag to monitor her journey, hoping she will successfully navigate home to her original nesting site.

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