Rescued sea turtles released into wild after rehab at Auckland's Kelly Tarlton's

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

Two rescued sea turtles are heading back into the ocean after recovering from serious health issues at an Auckland aquarium.

The two turtles, Spock and Kibou, were released off Northland’s Tutukaka coast after a karakia on March 17.

Spock, a green sea turtle, was found on Muriwai beach in September 2020 with serious injuries to digits on both her front flippers.

She was taken to Kelly Tarlton’s aquarium and made a full recovery after getting the digits amputated.

Kibou, a loggerhead turtle, was found stranded in October 2019, also on Muriwai beach.

He had a severe shoulder wound and lung infection.

Kibous received urgent care from Auckland Zoo’s vet hospital, including intensive care and antibiotic treatments.

He gained 13kg ahead of his release.

“I would love to say that all turtles are as lucky as Kibou and Spock but unfortunately that’s not the case as there are significant threats facing turtles in the wild,” Louise Greenshields from SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s said.

Turtles face danger from “human impacts” such as boat strikes, entanglement, plastic ingestion or habitat destruction.

Earlier this year, a protected black turtle died after a boat propeller lacerated its shell and punctured its lung.

Team Turtle urges people to report injured or stranded turtles to the DOC emergency hotline on 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).