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WILLIE


KEMP'S RIDLEY
Lepidochelys kempi

Juvenile

ADMIT
APRIL 23, 2009
 		RELEASED
Weight  kg  
SCL:  cm
SCW:  cm

THE STRANDING Caught in a bad-for-seaturtle-current or storm, this Kemp's Ridley washed ashore in Woolabombe Bay, England, in January 2007!  That's a good swim from her native beach in Mexico and her migratory waters off the coast of the U.S.  The waters are far too cold in the U.K. and a wayward Kemp's has little chance of survival.   Yet Willie did survive.
She was taken to the Weymouth Sea Life Park in England where she has been cared for until now.

Because this sea turtle belongs on this side of the Atlantic, arrangements were made to escort Willie to North Carolina for eventual release.
Thanks American Airlines for the successful transport of Willie.
THE TREATMENT Willie will undergo testing to determine her fitness for a near future release.
We hope to reset her navigation system and straighten out her accent prior to a beach release.

Walking Willy - by  Karen  Sota

Surely you’ve heard about “the new girl in town” by now: she’s been all over the local papers and on TV. But just in case you’re not up on the latest turtle gossip, here’s a brief recap of what’s been going on with “Willy.”

<>After she was literally blown across the Atlantic, this small Kemp’s Ridley stranded at Woolacombe Bay in the UK on January 6, 2007. She was less than 3 kg., battered and beaten to the point where the staff at Sea Life Park couldn’t even identify the species of sea turtle they found under their care. Long story short, after six months of treatment Willy was finally well enough to move into their shark nursery tank, where she grew and grew, longing for a way back to Kansas, er, the U.S.
 <>
And to make an even longer story short, after two years of paperwork, licenses, permits and negotiations with what seemed like endless government agencies, in two countries, Willy arrived at RDU with her entourage on May 22nd. She traveled courtesy of American Airlines and received “VIT” (very important turtle) treatment the entire way. OK, so maybe her wooden crate (from a British Army tank) wasn’t exactly luxurious, but it was well padded, and she was very well protected during the flight.

<>Now Willy had been overseas for so long that even Ambassador Lennie, who’s fluent in Kemp’s had difficulty understanding her accent. So not only did Willy need to relearn her native language, she had to repatriate herself, become familiar with “her” side of the Atlantic and turn on her turtle GPS system so she could find her natal beach when it was time to nest. Willy needed to go for a walk on the beach before she could be released.

<>But a turtle with international star quality does not simply take a walk on the beach. Her fans in the UK demanded the latest news on their famous Kemp’s, so her little stroll was televised live in the UK. Mike Dilger (the wildlife host of BBC-1’s “The One Show”) along with a crew of techies set up shop to document the moment when Willy’s flippers hit the Topsail sand.

<>While the small crowd waited near the surf, Willy sat comfortably on the sidelines tended to by her people, our volunteers. Mike gave last minute instructions to the crowd, going over the blocking one final time and counting down the seconds till live broadcast. A small contingent from Dixon Elementary held signs and waved flags, both American and British, to honor Willy’s dual citizenship. Jean stood firmly planted on her “X”, and as soon as the cameras rolled and the satellites beamed Willy was carried to her spot and lowered to the sand.

<>Initially she seemed a bit overwhelmed by all the fuss, not moving off her mark, as Jean and Mike hunkered down over her explaining why this walk on the beach was so important to her release. But although she wasn’t moving, you could see by her expression that she was taking in the smells and textures that were all so new to her. Once she seemed satisfied that she had the information she needed she took off for the water. Unfortunately that first step happened almost the second after the five-minute segment of live broadcast ended! Right before her flippers hit the incoming tide she was snatched up and driven back to the hospital for some rest, and a late meal. She had refused her breakfast earlier, knowing that the camera adds at least ten pounds.

<>So Willy passed her test. In another month Willy will get to walk again. But this time we’ll let her keep going.




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