BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

150-pound sea turtle in Hawaii euthanized after boat shatters shell, injuring spinal cord

Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

maylen

https://digital-stage.newsnationnow.com/

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

KAUAI, Hawaii (WFLA) — A 150-pound sea turtle had to be euthanized after a propeller from a speeding boat shattered its shell and injured its spinal cord, Hawaii officials said.

Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources wrote about the turtle on its Facebook page Friday, saying its the 22nd turtle injured by boats since March — a concerning number.

“Unfortunately, most sea turtles struck by boats do not survive,” the posts says. “This year only one turtle was sent to the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute for Rehabilitation before being released back to the ocean to live another day.”

This turtle was reportedly struck at Māhāʻulepū, Gillins beach on the island of Kauai. It was transported to O’ahu to be examined by turtle veterinarians, with hope that it may survive its injuries and one day return to the wild.

When Shandell Brunson, NOAA’s Sea Turtle Stranding Coordinator, arrived with the turtle at the veterinary clinic, it was barely moving. NOAA veterinarian Dr. Gregg Levine transported it to an examination room, where he noted a couple obvious injuries: A large wound that exposed a large portion of the lungs and damage to the spinal cord.

Additionally, Levine said the turtle’s flippers were hyperextended and not mobile, further indicating damage to the spinal cord.

Given the severity of the trauma to the shell and apparent spinal cord injury, doctors made the decision to humanely euthanize the turtle.

“Whatever the outcome, far too many turtles are being struck by boats, and other vessels. We need everyone to slow down and pay attention,” said Ed Underwood, Administrator of the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR). “Clearly not all ocean-goers are getting the message and many probably don’t even know they struck a turtle because they’re either going to fast or not paying attention to what’s happening in the water around them.”

Officials say many turtle boat strikes occur in relatively shallow waters, typically in or near small boat harbors and boat ramps where speed limits and no-wake zones are in effect.

LATEST TURTLE HIT BY A BOAT IS EUTHANIZED 22 Boat Strikes in 2020 Raises Alarm After being struck by a vessel and…

Posted by Hawaii DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources) on Friday, December 11, 2020
West

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Fair

la

49°F Fair Feels like 48°
Wind
3 mph ENE
Humidity
53%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
46°F A few passing clouds. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph N
Precip
8%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Gibbous