An Eastern Pacific Green Turtle has been saved and will now return to SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Turtle Bay ahead of the school holidays.
The 26kg turtle has been undergoing treatment for exhaustion, dehydration and low body temperature in the aquarium’s Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.
It was initially rescued by the Department of Conservation and checked over by Auckland Zoo’s specialist vet team.
The new green turtle has been named Taka and moved into Turtle Bay for the next stage of its recovery! Visitors to the aquarium can see this unique sea creature during the school holidays.
The aquarium is New Zealand’s only turtle rehabilitation facility. The team has cared for more than 100 turtles over the past 20 years together with the Department of Conservation and contracted vets from Auckland Zoo.
Eastern Pacific green turtles are also referred to as black sea turtles and native to waters near Costa Rica and the Galápagos Islands. This means Taka is a long way from home!
This species is classified as endangered, with populations decreasing due to overfishing and plastic pollution.
SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s is also participating in Plastic Free July 2020 with a virtual competition for schools to win a free excursion and 20% off Cheeki reusable drink bottles in the gift shop.
4 Responses
Aww poor thing at least his life mattered
#savetheturtles
thanks every one who helped save this little guy!
yeay #savethetutles