Irish navy returns five turtles to warmer waters after they washed up on west coast

One of the rescued turtles on its way to warmer waters. Picture: Naval Service

Irish naval officers have returned five loggerhead turtles to the wild after the young reptiles washed up on Ireland’s west coast in unprecedented numbers earlier this summer.

Marine experts believe the juveniles were swept from the Cape Verde, off Africa, or the US by a mix of strong winds and marine heatwaves before becoming “cold-stunned” as they drifted into Irish waters.