Rescued Turtle Trio Set for Release

This weekend is the last chance to see the rescued Loggerhead Turtles that are undergoing final health checks at Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium before flying out to the Canary Islands to be released back into the wild.

The turtles will be given a final check by Steve Philp from Clifton Villa Veterinary Surgery and each injected with tiny microchips in preparation for their departure late on Sunday night.

Nemo, Flash and Saor are all loggerhead turtles which were rescued after becoming stranded in Wales and Ireland last year.

Nemo was rescued earlier this year after being discovered drifting helplessly off the south west coast of Wales.

She will be joined on her journey by Flash, who was discovered on a beach near Bridgend in Wales and Saor - a third juvenile loggerhead turtle which was washed up on the shore in Ireland in March 2008 and has since been in recovery at Dingle Oceanworld

Blue Reef's Matt Slater said: "We're planning to drive all three of them to Gatwick Airport where they will be flown, courtesy of Thomas Cook and PBS, to Gran Canaria.

"Once there they will spend a few days in a special rehabilitation unit on the island where they will be given a final full examination before being taken to a beach location to be returned to the wild.

"In one way it will be sad to see them go but the overriding emotion will be one of joy that these incredible creatures have been saved from certain death and given a second chance," he added.

Blue Reef has been involved in the successful rehabilitation and release of nine loggerhead turtles in recent years.