Turtles flown to Gran Canaria

THOMAS Cook Airlines has flown three rescued Loggerhead turtles from London Gatwick to Las Palmas in Gran Canaria to be released back into the wild.

Nemo, the largest of the three turtles, was rescued earlier this year after being discovered drifting helplessly off the southwest coast of Wales. She was joined by Flash, who was found on a beach near Bridgend in Wales and Saor, who was washed up on the shore in Ireland in March 2008. Nemo and Flash have been rehabilitated at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay, whilst Saor was looked after at Dingle Oceanworld in County Kerry.

Joanna Wild, director of customer services of Thomas Cook Airlines, said: “Everyone at Thomas Cook is so pleased that we have been able to help in ensuring the safe and comfortable travel of these turtles, so they can swim away to freedom. We carry many animals in our cargo hold all over the world, but the special journey these turtles were making is particularly remarkable.”