From the Wild Atlantic to Gran Canaria: Aer Lingus helps young sea turtle find her way home

Aer Lingus welcomed a very special guest aboard flight EI782 today – a young green sea turtle named Solstice. After being discovered washed up on the west coast of Ireland, Solstice is now embarking on a journey to Gran Canaria, where a dedicated wildlife rescue team will assist in returning her to the warm waters of her natural habitat.

On Christmas Eve 2024, a dedicated volunteer from Hogsprickle Rescue in Co. Clare discovered the young green sea turtle stranded on the coast. They acted quickly and reached out to the expert team at Dingle Oceanworld, 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.

Thanks to the swift actions of the rescuers, Solstice was given the best chance of recovery. She has spent the last five months undergoing extensive treatment to return to full health. Now, the turtle – who weighs 3kg and measures 30 cm in length – is finally ready to return home. After getting a clean bill of health, the team at Dingle Oceanworld reached out to Aer Lingus to make plans to return Solstice to warmer waters.

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. From custom transport containers to on-board environmental controls, every precaution will be taken to ensure Solstice’s safety and comfort during the flight.

Once she 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.

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.”

Kevin Flannery, Director, Dingle Oceanworld, 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, ensuring she has the best chance to thrive and contribute to the health of the sea turtle population.”

This is not the first, or even second time Aer Lingus has worked with local rescue teams to help a lost sea turtle find its way home. Loggerhead turtle Julius Caesar, affectionately known as ‘JC’, was reunited with his native land in 2021, and before that “Leona,” also a loggerhead turtle, was transported back to Gran Canaria in 2014.