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A turtle that washed up on a beach in Guernsey could be sent to Cape Verde due to Brexit complications, an animal charity has said.

The loggerhead turtle dubbed “Barnacle Bill” was taken in by the GSPCA after Storm Ciarán hit in November.

Bill was scheduled to return to her natural habitat in Gran Canaria, but that has proved difficult due to paperwork issues, the GSPCA said.

GSPCA manager Steve Byrne said she may have to go “a bit further afield”.

He said the GSPCA had not received the required paperwork from Spanish authorities required to get Barnacle Bill to Gran Canaria.

The island, which is home to a turtle rescue centre, had previously taken in a loggerhead turtle from the GSPCA six years ago.

Mr Byrne said Cape Verde, an archipelago off Africa’s western coast, was being considered.

“With the length of time and a couple of other complications we are having to look into the potential of going a bit further afield,” he said.

“We have been in touch with a rescue in Cape Verde, which is a few hundred miles to the south [of Gran Canaria], and they are looking at the possibility of being able to help with Barnacle Bill.”

He said the GSPCA was “still exploring” Gran Canaria as an option.

“Brexit, and all the other complicated legislation that’s been brought in to moving animals in and out between the British Isles and the EU, is just causing a few challenges,” he said.

“Cape Verde are outside of the EU themselves – that might be an easier option for us.”