Toronto’s Ripley’s Aquarium just gave its two green sea turtles, Spot and Chewy, a new friend. The third endangered species to join the clan is Schoona, a whopping 288 pound green sea turtle.
Schoona was rescued by Vancouver Aquarium where she’s lived since 2005. She was named after British Columbia’s Schooner’s Pass where she was found in cold shock and unable to find her way back to her natural range, based on an Instagram post by Ripley’s on Monday.
“Although we are sad to see her leave, we feel that this is in her best interest and are thrilled that this move will continue to afford her with the highest quality of care. We are excited to see her go to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada in Toronto,” Animal Care Director of Vancouver Aquarium, Mackenzie Neale, said in a statement.
The Ripley’s team says they have been working closely with the team at Vancouver Aquarium to ensure Schoona’s transition is seamless.
Ripley’s Aquarium entrusted Air Canada to transport Schoona in a temperature-controlled cargo hold on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. She arrived in Toronto last week and has been settling into her new home in Ripley’s largest exhibit, the Dangerous Lagoon.
“Being able to transport Schoona with the highest level of care is something we are extremely proud to have been a part in. We provide the highest standard of safety and attention for all animals we are entrusted to carry, and we are thrilled to see Schoona is doing well in her new home,” Managing Director, Commercial for Air Canada Cargo, Matthieu Casey, said in a media release.
Air Canada says if you flew recently from Vancouver to Toronto, you may have possibly shared a flight with the special reptile.
“We sincerely appreciate all the effort and care from each of their teams – cargo, flight, media, admin and more – who showed great skill and professionalism from check-in at Vancouver to load out in Toronto. It’s not every day you have a flying sea turtle, but their help ensured Schoona had the smoothest possible journey. Thank you very much!” Director of Husbandry of Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Kevin McAvoy, said.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), green turtles are classified as endangered because they are “threatened by overharvesting of their eggs, hunting of adults, being caught in fishing gear and loss of nesting beach sites.”
The WWF says the green turtle is the only herbivore among the different species, and interesting fact, their name comes from the greenish colour of their cartilage and fat, not their shells.
Additionally, these turtles are mostly found in tropical and subtropical waters and similar to other sea turtles, they migrate long distances between feeding grounds and the beaches from where they’re hatched.
