Endangered sea turtle washes up in Akaroa
A massive rare sea turtle has washed up in Akaroa.
The endangered leatherback sea turtle is the largest of all living turtles, and this one, which is estimated to weigh more than 200 kilograms, could be driven to Te Papa in Wellington for scientists to determine the cause of its death.
Department of Conservation biodiversity ranger Derek Cox said the turtle was so large it had to be moved with a farm tractor, and it would be a ‘‘logistical nightmare’’ to transport it to Wellington.
It was possible it had died from consuming plastic, Cox said.
The turtle washed up on a farm in Pigeon Bay, and on Monday, a tractor was used to lift it on to Cox’s ute.
‘‘We brought it into the workplace here [in Akaroa] and tried to sort out what we were going to do with it, and get it to Wellington. As you can imagine, 200 kilos of turtle is quite a logistical nightmare to move around.’’
The turtle measures about 2.5 metres long and 1.8 metres across, and Cox estimated it would weigh between 200kg and 300kg.
The department decided to drive the turtle to Christchurch, but stopped at the local school to show students first, Cox said.
It was rare – the third leatherback turtle he’d seen in 12 years, and the first one they had been able to keep, he said.
At this stage there’s no indication how the turtle died. ‘‘We haven’t got any idea of what killed it, that’s up to Te Papa. It could be full of plastics.’’