Turtle gets flight in private plane owned by Iron Maiden frontman
An endangered turtle that washed up on a Jersey beach has been flown back to the Canary Islands on a jet owned by Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson.
Terri the loggerhead turtle has been treated by vets at the New Era Veterinary Hospital, but needs to go back to warmer climes before being released back into the wild.
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The team posted a picture of Terri when she first arrived at New Era and said her prognosis wasn't good. She had shell damage, infections and her temperature was too low.
So we have this little guy/gal in with us. We believe it to be a loggerhead turtle. It will have been cold stunned and...
Posted by New Era Veterinary Hospital on Sunday, January 10, 2016
But, after a lot of care, she was healthy enough to be transported to a facility in Gran Canaria before being released.
Terri has left the island!!!THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR EVERYONES HELP.As you can see the one show came over to film it. Hopefully will be Monday's program.:)
Posted by New Era Veterinary Hospital on Friday, January 29, 2016
It was first thought that her transport would cost £22,000, but after calls on social media for help and support, Aeris Aviation offered to provide the jet, owned by Bruce Dickinson.
The New Era hospital shared updates of Terri's progress on their Facebook page and said the public had raised around £7,500 to go towards the cost of the jet and her ongoing care.
Speaking to the BBC, vet Peter Howarth said: "It shows how much one little turtle can bond people together. We had interest immediately from Dubai, Australia and America.
"The sea life trust in the UK offered money if we need it, which we hope to put towards a satellite tracker so people can follow Terri on her journey."
