8/31/2021
Our rescue line received a call from DOCARE at 1900 hours Saturday telling us that a dive boat had picked up a turtle with a hook and line attached.
We didn't know much more so decided to go down to the Puako boaat launch ramp and met the DOCARE officer there to take a look at it. The turtle had been brought to shore by Adventure X dive company. The turtle turned out to be a juvenile hawksbill turtle with a wire leader coming out of the mouth. I used a speculum to look into the mouth but was unable to see a hook. I told the DOCARE Officer that I would keep it overnight an seek advice from the NOAA Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program scientists and veterinarians..
The animal appeared to be in relatively good condition and had been seen with the hook over a period of time.. perhaps weeks. The honu'ea was kept in an animal carrier overnight with the hopes that we could ship it to Honolulu on Sunday... Unfortunately, it iws impossible to get it shipped on Sunday so we kept it safe for another day and were able to take it to the Kona Airport to be shipped to HNL on Monday at 1330 h.
The turtle was received by the stranding folks in HNL and was taken to the animal hospital for xrays to determine whaat had been swallowed. It turns our that this litttle guy had taken bait from fishermen several times in the past and had several small hooks caught in its digestive track. The latest one was the large circle hook with the wire leader attached.
The big hook was surgically removed and some of the smaller hooks were removed also. There is still a hook that was too deep to get at and the lpe is that it will work its way out on its own.
Tha animal is in rehab with the hope that it will recover quickly from its surgery.
species: Ei
Date/time: 7/31/21 at 1930 h
Curved Carapace Length = 56 cm
Location: Puako Launch Ramp
19.974048° N
155.831403° W
Images of the turtle and xray images showing hooks that this hawksbill has ingested.
