Barnacle Betty Stranding

 1/11/22

The HPA Stranding hotline received a call from a concerned resident that there was a large turtle stranded 50-75 meters from the ocean laying out in the hot sun.  

The HPA team of Laura Jim and Marc Rice responded and drove to Kohanaiki to assess the situation.  We found that the turtle was indeed a long ways from the water's edge (probably washed there by high surf during a high tide event) and was breathing but not able to move well.  After closer inspection, we noted that there was a 3/8" diameter puncture wound in the cranium just to the right of the centerline.  To this writer, it is very likely that the puncture wound was caused by a spear shaft.  What a shame...

Because the turtle weighed somewhere around 180-200 lbs we waited for assistance from the security team at the park.  They helped us to move the turtle from the rock up to an ATV.  It was subsequently decided that we would put the honu in the water and see what it would do.  Unfortunately, it was unable to swim and had to be retrieved.  

After contacting NOAA'S MTABP we decided to keep the turtle overnight and air freight it to Oahu for veterinary evaluation.  The honu, which we found had been named "barnacle betty"(BB) by Kaloko-Honokohau Park service personnel, was shipped to Oahu and evaluated.  Unfortunately, there appeared to be significant neurological damage and it was very unlikely that BB would survive.  She was humanely euthanized to prevent further suffering.  

BB was a particularly interesting turtle because it was hatched at Sea Life Park on Oahu, raised at Mauna Lani Auberge Resort and released on 7/4/92 during the resort's Turtle Independence Day Celebration.  It was captured 12 different times between then and its recovery and it grew from 35 cm straight carapace length in 1992 to 87 cm in length in 2017 (average rate of growth ~2 cm/yr).  

Below is the stranding report and some images of BB.

STRANDING REPORT:

Date:  1/11/2022

Location: Kohanaiki State Park

Lat:   19.692569°

Long:  -156.043167°

Call received from Sharon that they were watching a large turtle stranded 50-100 yards from the ocean.  Pictures were provided and we determined that it was in need of help.  We (Marc Rice and Laura jim) drove from Waimea down to Kohanaiki State Park and made our way to the far southern end of the park. We were met by Sharon and her husband and they showed us the turtle.  The turtle was dry, hot and lethargic but moving.  We observed that there was a 3/8 " hole in the cranium to the right of the mid-line on the dorsal surface of the head.  The wound looked very much like a shaft spear hole.  With the help of park security personnel, we moved the turtle to an ATV and determined that we should give it a chance in the water... When the turtle was placed in the water it did not swim away ... it layed there and let the water wash it about and even seemed. to want to move back out of the water.  

As a result of these observations, we decided that it would not survive on its own if released and we put the turtle into our vehicle to keep overnight and ship to Oahu the next day. 

Species:  Cm

CCL = 86 cm

tagging history is attached

EM = 0 (turtle apparently lives in/around Honokohau harbor and is very robust with rolls of fat)

Injuries:  3/8" hole penetrating dorsal cranium to right of midline.

1/11/22

Distance traveled = 80 miles

Time from start to finish:  4 hours

Turtle kept at Marc Rice's house for the night.

1/12/22

Turtle is alive as of 1400 hours and we have gathered and assembled an appropriate carrier.  HPA students will help load the turtle in the carrier

at 1500 hours and Laura Jim and Marc Rice will deliver it  to the Aloha Air Cargo Office at the E.O.Kona International Airport at ~1630 h

Distance traveled = 55 miles

Time devoted to logistics and travel= 3 hours

Turtle was delivered to Oahu.

Tagging History for BB:

Sea Life Park Hatched

7/4/91 CCL 29.2 @ Mauna Lani

7/4/92 CCL 37.3 @ Mauna Lani (release likely)

1/8/95 CCL 43.0 @ Puako

10/5/99 CCL 53.5 @ Kaloko-Honokohau

10/30/2000 CCL 55.0 @ Kaloko-Honokohau-Honokohau

5/7/01 CCL 55.5 @ Kaloko-Honokohau-Honokohau

6/6/02 CCL 57.5 @ Kaloko-Honokohau-Honokohau

10/4/02 CCL 58.0 @ Kaloko-Honokohau-Honokohau

6/16/03 CCL 58.5 @ Kaloko-Honokohau-Honokohau

8/13/03 CCL 59.0 @ Kaloko-Honokohau-Honokohau

9/10/03 CCL 59.0 @ Kaloko-Honokohau-Honokohau

4/13/04 CCL 59.0 @ Kaloko-Honokohau-Honokohau

9/9/05 CCL 61.0 @ Kaloko-Honokohau-Honokohau

11/3/17 CCL 87.0 @ Kaloko-Honokohau-Honokohau

1/11/22 CCL 86.5 @ Kohanaiki

Laura Jim stands next to BB as we found her on the rocks.

BB laying on the rocks, barely able to move.

The 3/8" puncture wound is clearly visible in this shot.

The ATV provided by the Kohanaiki security people.  They were very helpful in moving this heavy girl off the rocks and into the ATV.

BB in the back of the ATV.

One of the metal tags put on BB in the past- B-135.