Turtle begins long voyage home
A critically endangered turtle that was nursed back to health for more than two years has begun its journey back home.
Koha the turtle boarded Niwa’s ship Tangaroa yesterday morning bound for the Kermadecs.
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle was nursed back to health by Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium in Auckland after being found near Dargaville in September, 2014.
‘‘Koha was found in a severely emaciated and lethargic state,’’ Kelly Tarlton’s turtle expert Harry JosephsonRutter said.
The turtle was flown to Auckland and tube-fed a special diet alongside antibiotics, then slowly reintroduced to solid food.
Koha was moved to a larger tank to gain strength and fitness before release.
Josephson-Rutter said it was likely Koha was swimming in New Zealand waters as part of its early years when turtles typically travelled the world’s oceans via major ocean currents. ‘‘The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is listed as critically endangered. Having already been hunted to near extinction for its attractive shell, sea turtles are now under threat from ocean pollution and habitat destruction.’’
During a ceremony at Auckland’s Wynyard Wharf yesterday, led by Ngati Whatua and Ngati Kuri leaders, Koha was blessed before being carried onto Tangaroa
Scientists aboard Tangaroa are undertaking a 20-day scientific expedition in the Kermadec region.
Koha is expected to be released tomorrow morning near Raoul Island. Voyage leader and Niwa principal scientist Dr Malcolm Clark said the team were honoured to have Koha aboard for the first part of the trip. ‘‘It is a rare privilege to be able to return a critically endangered creature to its natural habitat. We are very much looking forward to releasing it, knowing we have played a small part in helping the conservation of this magnificent species.’’