Loggerhead turtle to be home for Christmas

Leon, a rescued endangered turtle, looks set to spend Christmas back at home in the Canary Islands. Aer Lingus has responded positively to Galway Atlantaquaria and the airline has agreed to fly the 15-years-old loggerhead to Gran Canaria.
She is due to fly on an Aer Lingus commercial flight from Dublin Airport on December 2.
Galway Atlantaquaria confirmed the provisional departure date and said Aer Lingus is awaiting the official go-ahead from the aviation authority.
Joanne Casserly of Galway Atlantaquaria said: “We were in contact with Aer Lingus and they have agreed to fly Leon to Gran Canaria, to a sanctuary just outside Las Palmas. She is due to fly out on the second of December. Aer Lingus is just tying up loose ends with the aviation authority. It’s just red tape.”
Ms Casserly thanked Aer Lingus for its assistance.
Leon washed up on a beach in Quilty, Co Clare during a storm in November of last year, and has been recuperating in the Atlantaquaria in Salthill, where her weight has almost doubled to 20kg.
When found, Leon had pneumonia and an eye infection and a lot of damage to his carapace (shell) but this has since cleared up.
Leon, all going well, should be back in her natural warm water home in time for Christmas.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.