A loggerhead turtle released from the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa a little over two years ago has made the most of her freedom, clocking up 37,000km since her release.

Yoshi the turtle was fitted with a tracker when she was released, and recently turned up off Australia’s west coast. Her journey is a record – one of the longest migrations ever documented.

She lived at the Cape Town aquarium for 20 years before being released back into the ocean. She was initially brought to the aquarium in 1997 following an injury to her shell – and she subsequently inspired the establishment of the facility’s intensive turtle rehabilitation programme. It treats and releases hundreds of sea turtles every year.

Yoshi’s swim to Australia is possibly a return to the land of her birth. It’s believed she’s heading towards Point Samson in Western Australia’s Pilbara region – a popular breeding ground for her species. She could be heading there to lay eggs, or perhaps just to snack on the delicious treats on the area’s reefs.

Her tracker’s battery has lasted much longer than anticipated and conservation officials in Australia have agreed to meet up with her if she decides to nest, to replace the battery and continue documenting her extraordinary journey.