VISITORS to Exploris Aquarium will be able to catch a glimpse of a rare turtle rescued from a beach in Co Donegal.
Two months after the turtle was found near Rosbeg, he is settling into his new home at the Co Down visitor attraction after being nursed back to health.
He was found washed up by a father and daughter after being carried hundreds of miles by the Gulf Stream from the mid-Atlantic.
The seal rescue team from Exploris Aquarium made a five-hour trip to Donegal from their Portaferry base to pick up the turtle, who was critically ill and needing round-the-clock care for cold stunning.
The turtle, named Julius Caesar or JC, has continued to improve every day.
Peter Williams, curator at Exploris Aquarium, said visitors will this weekend be able to see JC in his new home.
"We have been working tirelessly to slowly raise the turtle’s temperature by a couple of degrees every day," he said.
"We also decided, under the watchful eye of our veterinary team, to administer a course of antibiotics as an increase in temperature heightened the risk of a secondary infection setting in," he said.
"I am now happy to report that JC is making slow but great progress and is currently feeding well on a variety of fish and invertebrates.
"He is also receiving a gelatin diet full of calcium, vitamins and minerals which is important for the development of his shell.
"As JC has taken well to rehabilitation we have decided that it is best for him to be moved to a larger space as he will have more room to swim and dive."
Exploris Aquarium will continue to monitor JC’s weight over the coming months and release him back to his natural environment when he has fully recovered.
