Imagine being lost in a faraway place, thousands of miles from home, and somehow finding your way back. That’s exactly what happened to Boeier, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle.
Boeier’s story starts in the Gulf of Mexico, where Kemp’s ridley sea turtles usually thrive in warm waters. But one day, Boeier was swept up by a fishing net off the coast of the Netherlands, over 5,000 miles away.
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Caught in the cold North Sea, Boeier was stunned by the freezing waters—far too cold for a turtle accustomed to the warmth of the Gulf.
Luckily, the crew of a commercial fishing boat found her, and after rescuing her from the net, they brought her to Rotterdam Zoo. There, zoo staff worked to warm her up and nurse her back to health, giving Boeier a second chance at life.
A long road back to the Gulf
But the road to recovery wasn’t over. Getting Boeier back to her home in the Gulf of Mexico was going to take some serious teamwork. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with a host of organizations, worked for months to secure all the necessary paperwork and permits to send Boeier home. This included obtaining a special Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permit, which is required for the safe transport of endangered species across borders.
Finally, after months of planning, Boeier’s flight was booked. On October 29, she boarded a flight from Amsterdam to Houston, where she would undergo another round of check-ups before heading back to the beach.
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Warm welcome in Houston
When Boeier arrived in Houston, the team at the Houston Zoo was ready and waiting. They performed a thorough medical exam—blood tests, X-rays, and physical checks—to ensure she was healthy after her long journey. All signs were positive! Boeier was strong, alert, and fit for the next step.
To help her adjust to the warmer water she would soon return to, she was placed in a deep water tank to acclimate. Two days later, she was given a final check-up by the zoo’s experts, who confirmed she was good to go.
Finally home: Release in Galveston
On November 4, Boeier’s long-awaited moment arrived. After almost a year of recovery, travel, and careful monitoring, she was ready to go home.
Researchers from Texas A&M University’s Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research attached a small tracking device to Boeier, so they could follow her movements once she was released.
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Boeier was taken to Stewart Beach in Galveston, where the warm waters of the Gulf awaited. As soon as she was released into the ocean, she swam off with ease, back into the waters she was meant to call home.
A victory for conservation
In a remarkable journey of adversity, Boeier, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle was able return to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico after being stranded more than 5,000 miles away from home. (1/5) pic.twitter.com/C6F4QZjT5Z
— Houston Zoo (@houstonzoo) November 7, 2024
Teamwork made Boeier’s survival—and eventual release—possible. From the Sea Animal Rescue Team Foundation in the Netherlands to the Houston Zoo, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Texas A&M University, countless individuals worked behind the scenes to make her return possible.
What you can do to help
If you ever come across a sea turtle on a beach, be sure to report it to the experts right away by calling 1-866-TURTLE-5 (1-866-887-8535).
