A lost sea turtle, once on the verge of death, is now thriving in its natural habitat – and it’s all thanks to an intrepid team of wildlife experts. The subtropical turtle named Moira was found almost frozen to death in cold Canadian waters in February, according to a report from Oregon Public Broadcasting.

A father and son first discovered a cold-stunned Moira on the southern tip of Vancouver Island earlier this year. The hypothermic 80-pounder loggerhead floated almost lifeless in a bed of kelp. Seeing a loggerhead turtle in Vancouver is extremely rare. Moira’s appearance was just second confirmed sighting of a loggerhead in British Columbia waters.

According to Vancouver AquariumMoira’s body temperature was only 8.4 degrees Celsius (47.1 degrees Fahrenheit), well below the 20 to 25 degrees Celsius range for healthy loggerheads. Simply put, Moira was in trouble. The Vancouver Aquarium took in the sick turtle and cared for it for several months.

By the end of October, Moira was ready to return to the warmer waters off the coast of California. The non-profit organization responsible for transporting endangered species Turtles also fly evacuated Moira to San Diego. There, she spent two days under observation at SeaWorld California, where veterinarians assessed her readiness to return to the wild.

Moira was ready.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and SeaWorld personnel released Moira into San Diego Bay, a much more suitable habitat for the loggerhead. Before his release, Moria’s caregivers glued a small satellite transmitter to his shell. Tracking turtles Using satellite is a critical way for wildlife managers and conservationists to monitor vulnerable populations and learn about threats to endangered species.

In one day, Moira swam dozens of kilometers across Mexican waters. You can track Moira’s movements here.

Loggerhead turtles are a endangered species in the United States, listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act since 1978. According to the National Marine Fisheries Serviceloggerhead sea turtle populations have declined largely because of the aquatic creatures tangled in fishing gear. Loggerheads are also threatened by climate change impacts including habitat loss, warming global temperatures and severe storms. Marine pollution like discarded plasticsTangled fishing lines and oil spills also threaten turtles like Moira.

“With their population dwindling, each turtle, especially females, essential to the species’ reproductive capacity, plays a vital role in its survival,” a Vancouver Aquarium news release states. states.

Officials said Oregon Public Broadcasting that Moira is probably between 15 and 20 years old. According to the National Marine Fisheries ServiceLoggerhead turtles are estimated to live more than 70 years.

Moira likely hatched on a beach in southern Japan, traveling approximately 6,000 miles to settle in Mexico. Loggerheads often travel north during the warmer months, but some encounter problems when they find themselves too far from their natural habitat.

The National Maritime Fisheries Service reports that warming sea temperatures could cause sea turtles to move into unsuitable environments where they risk being cold-stunned. The extreme case of Moira, who ends up in Vancouver, shows how devastating it can be when global temperature changes disrupt a turtle’s instincts.

To help combat this problem, research how you can make a difference locally to protect all wildlife.

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