Molly the Loggerhead Turtle Set for Release After 22 Years of Rehabilitation

In 2004 a loggerhead turtle named Molly washed ashore on Maharees beach, Castlegregory, Kerry, with flipper injuries. Dr. Kevin Flannery of Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium suggested a storm carried her from Gulf of Mexico, where cold-shock left her vulnerable, across the Atlantic. DNA testing by Dr. David Duffy confirmed a Gulf-origin genetic profile, supporting this transatlantic drift hypothesis.

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Dr. Kevin Flannery led the rescue and long-term care at Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium. Dr. David Duffy provided DNA verification. Health assessment will be conducted at Zoomarine, a specialist turtle-rehabilitation centre in Albufeira, Portugal, in partnership with Oceanworld’s veterinary team.

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At rescue Molly weighed about 26 lb (?12 kg), far below the typical adult weight of over 200 lb (?90 kg). Ten years old, she spent 22 years receiving therapy, a diet of squid, jellyfish and mussels, and flipper treatment. By 2026 she reached 440 lb (?200 kg), deemed suitable for release.

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Oceanworld’s spokesperson called upcoming release “a emotional moment for all of us” and said the decision prioritises Molly’s welfare, citing advances in veterinary science. Dr. Flannery reiterated that cold-shock explains her presence in Irish waters and expressed confidence she can now navigate back to warmer habitats. The aquarium stressed that release will occur under controlled, monitored conditions after final assessment at Zoomarine.

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Staff attribute the flipper injuries to a shark attack, but the cause is not definitively confirmed. Release date and post-release monitoring plan remain unspecified.

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• “Like all reptiles, turtles can get too cold and they go into cold shock, and they can’t swim back down to the Gulf, and they get washed all the way up to the Carolinas and beyond into Boston and some get carried across the Atlantic to us,” — Dr. Kevin Flannery, Founder, Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium

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• “We’ve been working closely with Zoomarine in Albufeira in Portugal, and we’ve come to the decision in conjunction with their experts that she is strong enough to go back to sea as she would now be quite capable of making it back to the Gulf,” — Dr. Kevin Flannery, Founder, Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium

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• “While it is incredibly difficult to say goodbye, our priority has always been her welfare, and we are delighted that she now has the opportunity to return to the ocean.” — Oceanworld spokesperson

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• “Manage Preferences "It is the result of years of care, dedication and collaboration between experts committed to marine conservation," Oceanworld aquarium’s spokesperson added.” — Oceanworld spokesperson

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Molly will be taken to Zoomarine in Albufeira for a health check before release into Atlantic waters under controlled, monitored conditions.

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