‘Miracle’ Miami turtle being cared for in Dingle after washing up on Irish beach

The miniature loggerhead has been named Cróga – the Irish for brave – after being washed up on a beach in Belmullet.

A Miami turtle has been described as “an absolute miracle” after being washed up on an Irish beach, thousands of miles from home.

Six-inch long Cróga is thought to be about 1 year old, and is currently being cared for by director of Dingle Oceanworld Kevin Flannery, who says it’s very rare for such a small turtle to be found alive after crossing the Atlantic from Florida.

Cróga the turtle, image via Dominick Walsh 

“Usually, birds would have picked them off or a shark or something would have eaten it or the cold shock from the water would have killed it,” he told the Irish Mirror.

“They would also die if washed up on rocks upside down. Being so tiny it’s an absolute miracle it survived.”

“The poor devil would have been in cold-shock and usually they don’t survive. They are marine reptiles and need warm water of 20C plus”.

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When Cróga was found beached upside down she was cold stunned, lethargic and unable to swim or move. She was spotted by local man Cormac de Rosta out walking with his two daughters earlier this month. Cróga was then taken to Achill Aquarium, before being picked up by expert Kevin and brought to Dingle.

Loggerhead turtles usually feed on jellyfish, but the large amount of plastic in our oceans is an issue as the turtles can’t tell the difference.

“They can’t tell the difference between jellyfish and plastic and we are finding huge levels of plastic they have ingested. It’s a major problem for turtles”, Kevin said.

The turtle is currently doing well and has put on nine ounces. She’ll be in the care of the aquarium for a few more months and will eventually be released into the warmer waters of the Canaries.

Header image via Shutterstock 

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