Boat Strike Honu

 Saturday, 9/10/2022

We got a call from a beach-goer that there was a turtle out of the water at Kaloko-Honokohau Historical Park that had a large wound/gash on the top of its carapace.  Laura Jim and Marc Rice drove down to the Park and met with the woman who guided us to the turtle.  It was "basking" under the Naupaka plants to the north of the Canoe Hale.  After conferring with the NOAA veterinarians, it was decided that the turtle needed to be sent to MOC for further evaluation and treatment.  With the help of Kyle (KAHO park ranger) we were able to put the turtle into a box and move it to our vehicle.  

Ke Kai Ola (Marine Mammal Care center) at NELHA was willing to keep the poor turtle over the weekend for us as we couldn't get a flight to Maui until Monday.  The KKO Veterinarian accepted the honu and it was cared for until Monday morning when Marc Rice picked it up, put it in an animal carrier and transported it to the airport for a flight to Maui and the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute.   

This turtle was first seen at Mauna Lani 10 years ago…

Left Hind Pit Tag: 4413322617

09/05/12: Mauna Lani  SCL: 46.9 cm CCL: 50.0 cm Mass: 13.6 kg

03/13/13L Mauna Lani SCL:47.4  cm CCL: 50.5 cm Mass: 13.6 kg

09/28/16: Kaloko SCL: 51.9 cm CCL: 56.0 cm Mass: 20.4 kg

04/3/18: Kaloko SCL: 54.6 cm CCL: 59.0 cm Mass: 21.3 kg

09/10/22: Kaloko CCL : 62.5 cm, Mass: 27 kg -  STRANDED AT KAHO and picked up by HPA.

   UPDATE:  The MOC Marine Institute received the honu on Monday and gave it treatment but after two days the turtle passed.  The injuries from the boat strike had penetrated the abdominal cavity and when that happens it is often deadly.  We thank the MOCMI for doing their best for the little honu.

Images of stranded honu:

Ke Kai Ola marine mammal care center.

Injured honu basking.

Injury to the Carapace of the honu.

KKO veterinarian coated the wounded area with antiseptic cream.