Home / Environment / Exotic Sea Turtles Strand on Irish Coasts Amid Climate Change
Exotic Sea Turtles Strand on Irish Coasts Amid Climate Change
2 Aug
Summary
- Surge in exotic sea turtle strandings on Irish beaches
- 5 Critically endangered Loggerhead Turtles rescued and cared for
- Turtles migrating farther north due to global warming and marine heatwaves
As of August 2, 2025, Ireland has seen an unprecedented surge in the number of exotic sea turtles washing up on its beaches. According to the latest reports, five Loggerhead Turtles, a critically endangered species, were recently found stranded between Inch in County Kerry and Belmullet in County Mayo. These turtles are currently being cared for at the Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium in County Kerry, where staff are working tirelessly to ensure their speedy recovery.
The Loggerhead Turtle is just one of the seven species of sea turtles found worldwide. While the Leatherback Turtle is the largest, the remaining six species, including the Loggerhead, Green, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, Kemp's Ridley, and Flatback Turtles, have hard shells. Loggerheads are known for their disproportionately large heads, which house their powerful jaws and jaw muscles used to crush the shells of their prey, such as crabs, clams, and whelks.
Scientists believe the recent surge in turtle strandings is due to the severe marine heatwave recorded in the North Atlantic Ocean during the summer of 2023, which led to record-breaking sea surface temperatures. As a result, turtles are now migrating farther north, likely in search of cooler waters, causing more of them to become stranded on Irish shores, especially along the country's west coast.
