An endangered sea turtle spent 22 years recovering from a shark attack. Now, she's finally returning to the ocean

In 2004, a loggerhead sea turtle named Molly washed ashore in Castlegregory, Ireland. Her flippers were severely injured. Experts believe a shark attack caused the injuries.

Molly was taken to Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium. She spent 22 years there recovering.

A Long Journey Home

Oceanworld founder Dr. Kevin Flannery thinks Molly was swept into a storm. This storm likely carried her from the warm Gulf of Mexico to the cold North Atlantic. The cold stunned her, and a transatlantic current pulled her to Ireland.

Years later, Dr. David Duffy confirmed this theory. He compared Molly's DNA to samples from Gulf sea turtles. They matched.

Dr. Flannery explained that turtles can get too cold, go into shock, and can't swim back. They get carried across the Atlantic.

When Molly arrived, she was about 10 years old but very small and frail. She weighed only 26 pounds, far below the average for her species.

Ready for the Ocean

After 22 years of care, swimming exercises, and a diet of squid, jellyfish, and mussels, Molly now weighs 440 pounds. She is finally strong enough to return to the wild.

The team worked with Zoomarine in Portugal. They decided Molly is capable of making it back to the Gulf.

In Portugal, Molly will have one final check-up. Then, she will return to warm Atlantic waters under monitored conditions.

A spokesperson for Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium said it's an emotional moment. "Molly has been part of our lives for over 20 years," they noted. "Our priority has always been her welfare, and we are delighted that she now has the opportunity to return to the ocean."