GSPCA needs heated pool for its growing loggerhead turtle

Barnacle Bill was found on the west coast in the wake of Storm Ciaran last November.

While at the Animal Shelter she quickly improved.

Preparations to return her to the wild were drawn up, with paperwork submitted and the turtle microchipped.

But while the Guernsey export paperwork was swiftly approved, there have been issues with import paperwork.

It had been planned originally that she would go to Gran Canaria, but now the charity is exploring other destinations, such as Cape Verde or Turkey.

GSPCA manager Steve Byrne said the turtle had tripled in weight since her arrival.

‘She has been growing so well we are now looking for a much larger enclosure for her while we continue to seek CITES paperwork and a suitable destination for her to be transported,’ he said.

‘To move endangered species like loggerhead turtles we require export and import CITES documents.

‘We, in the first instance, have been looking to move her to a rescue centre in Gran Canaria that we have used previously, but due to the UK coming out of the EU, the Spanish import forms have been much more complicated.

‘We have been informed we could transport her to a centre in the UK where they could hold for a quarantine period before being transported to Gran Canaria, but we would rather not have to transport her more than we have to, so are currently looking at options in Cape Verde and Turkey.’

Loggerhead turtles are found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea.

But very few loggerheads are found along the European and African coastlines, with Cape Verde Islands being the most easterly nesting site.

Mr Byrne said the most important thing was to get the turtle back to where she belonged, and in the meantime they were looking for larger swimming quarters while the charity cares for her.

She was just 700g when she arrived at the charity, but she has grown to about 2.4kg and is now about six years old.

‘She is a wonderful creature,’ Mr Byrne said.

‘She is very inquisitive and healthy.’

She is fast outgrowing her enclosure, so the charity is appealing for help.

Bill needs to be kept in 20C water – hence why she cannot go back in local waters.

Ideally the charity needs a four-foot square pool it can keep on site, with a pump and filter.

It must be in good condition.

‘We only need to borrow it,’ Mr Byrne said.

He hoped Bill would be back in the sea in the next few months.

• Anyone with a heated pool can get in touch with the shelter on 257261 or email steve@gspca.org.gg.