Her name is Peig. She was found near the Kerry Blaskets, and now wants to go home. A loggerhead turtle called after the island storyteller needs to return to her native Caribbean if she is to survive.
The turtle was caught last autumn in the gill-nets of a fisherman who brought her in to Mara Beo, the Dingle Oceanworld aquarium. She was nursed back to health in a warm-water environment, and put on 12 kilos over the winter, according to Mr Kevin Flannery of Mara Beo and the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources.
The loggerhead lives in tropical climes, and is one of the largest among the sea turtle family. When in cold or temperate-cold waters - as happens to several a year found off this coastline - they often go into thermal shock. This is because their circulatory system is not equipped to deal with temperature drops.
Sea turtles are a threatened species, due to exploitation for meat and jewellery. Their eggs are considered to be an aphrodisiac in the Caribbean, and removal of eggs and destruction of their beach habitats puts the species under further pressure.
Peig is believed to be in her early 20s, and has been growing fast. "If we can get her over to the Canaries or Madeira, that would be preferable to here," Mr Flannery said.
"Sea turtles often spend their adolescent years in that area before returning to the Caribbean. Peig requires water temperatures of 20 degrees if she is to survive." The Mara Beo aquarium is appealing to airlines to support the turtle's urgent relocation.
The aquarium recently acquired two new types of shark - blacktip and whitetip reef sharks which are native to the Indo-West Pacific, Central Pacific and east African regions. Commonly found in shallow waters and near coral reefs, they have been known to attack people.
Dingle is en fete this week for the Figaro Solitaire singlehanded yacht race, but the route south wouldn't suit Peig - the final leg is to the Bay of Gascony - and her presence on board might be regarded as a breach of the rules.
However, a French naval vessel accompanying the race might be asked if it can give any assistance - failing an alternative. Mr Flannery can be contacted at Mara Beo, Dingle Oceanworld, telephone: 0669152151.
