Happyzine 2015 = exciting times ahead

19 February 2012

For immediate release

Rehabilitated Sea Turtles Released Back Into Wild

Kelly Tarlton’s SEA LIFE Aquarium Aids Sick Turtles Back to Health

Five sick and injured turtles were successfully released back into the ocean at the Poor Knights Island Marine Reserve and the Bay of Islands yesterday, after a period of rehabilitation at Kelly Tarlton’s SEA LIFE Aquarium in Auckland.

The five turtles, all found and rescued by concerned members of the public, have been aided back to health by dedicated Kelly Tarlton’s SEA LIFE Aquarium staff, who have nursed them for five months up to two years.

Kelly Tarlton’s SEA LIFE Aquarium curator, Andrew Christie says, “Many turtles are found after being washed up on New Zealand shores with gut impactions from ingesting plastics or being tangled in rope, so it’s important to provide a place for these often endangered animals to become healthy again.
“We treat the turtles using x-rays to identify the cause of their poor health, and administer fluids and antibiotics to fight infection and dehydration. This year most turtles that have come to us have swallowed plastics and lost the ability to dive for food. We give them laxatives to help them pass the obstruction, but it takes a number of months.”

One of this year’s successes, a Green Turtle named ‘G3’, was found suffering cold shock and a gut impaction from swallowing synthetic rope. Through treatment, including tube feeding G3 paraffin oil to help pass the blockage, he was nursed back to health.

Once the turtles are healthy, they are kept in Kelly Tarlton’s SEA LIFE Aquarium’s special holding tanks and then later rehabilitated in the oceanarium tank until sea conditions are suitable for release. This is generally only once a year around February when sea temperatures have risen, which enables the rehabilitated turtles the best chance of remaining healthy.

Before being released back into the wild the turtles are tagged. This year, one Green Turtle has been satellite tagged, allowing its journey to be tracked and studied. The remaining four Green and Hawksbill Turtles released have been fitted with flipper identification tags, which are used to identify the turtle if seen again.

Kelly Tarlton’s SEA LIFE Aquarium set up its Turtle Rehabilitation Programme in 1991 and over this time, 72 sick turtles, including many endangered species such as the Hawksbill Turtle, have been rescued and rehabilitated at the centre. It is New Zealand’s only turtle nursing centre.

Andrew Christie says that we can all help reduce the human impact on turtle habitats.

“Please make sure you dispose of plastics properly. Turtles may mistake this for food and swallow them unknowingly.

“While we love the work that we do, we’d prefer that New Zealand waters are safe and plastic-free for turtles.”

For more information about Kelly Tarlton’s SEA LIFE Aquarium visit www.kellytarltonssealife.co.nz or call 0800 80 50 50.

Tags: marine reserve