Turtle’s 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 vessel Tangaroa on October 20 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 Josephson-Rutter says.
The turtle was flown to Auckland and was treated at the aquarium before being tube fed a special diet alongside antibiotics, then slowly being reintroduced to solid food.
Koha was moved to a larger tank to gain strength and fitness prior to release.
Josephson-Rutter says it was likely Koha was swimming in New Zealand waters as part of its early years.‘‘The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is listed as critically endangered. Having already been hunted to near extinction throughout history for its attractive shell, sea turtles are now under threat from ocean pollution and habitat destruction.’’
During a ceremony at Auckland’s Wynyard Wharf Koha was blessed before being carried onto Tangaroa, the flagship research vessel.