University of Hawai'i University Relations Media & Publications Honolulu, HI 96822	(808) 956-8856 Telephone (808) 956-3441 Facsimile ur@hawaii.edu E-Mail
For Immediate Release:	December 6, 1999
Contact: Dr. Leon Hallacher, (Hilo)974-7364

Rare Hawksbill turtle rescued at Punaluu

The freshwater pond at the site of the old Punaluu Village Restaurant held a big surprise for students from the University of Hawai`i at Hilo Marine Option Program who were on the scene to investigate reports of a sea turtle, tangled in fishing line, trapped in the pond.

In response to sightings of a mysterious turtle by residents of the area, the UH Hilo students, accompanied by biologists from the National Marine Fisheries Service, recently set up watch around the edge of the murky pond. Their efforts were soon rewarded when one of them enthusiastically yelled "turtle" and pointed to a large reptile swimming under a footbridge.

The turtle was quickly surrounded, captured, and removed from the pond. It was at that point that George Balazs, an NMFS turtle specialist, realized just how unusual the day's rescue had been. Expecting the stranded turtle to be one of the green sea turtles that commonly frequent Punaluu Bay, he was amazed to discover that the rescued animal was in fact a rare Hawksbill turtle.

The rescued turtle did have monofilament fishing line wrapped around one of its front flippers so the line was carefully removed. Had the turtle not been rescued the line would have slowly caused amputation of the front flipper, seriously jeopardizing the Hawksbill's chances of survival. After the line was removed, the animal was examined for injuries, measured, tagged, and then released into the ocean.

Hawksbill sea turtles, listed on the U.S. government's endangered species list, are rarely seen in Hawaiian waters, although they occasionally come ashore on Maui and the Big Island to lay eggs in the sand. After about two months, the eggs hatch and the nestling turtles crawl back to the sea. On the Big Island, Hawksbill nests are monitored by volunteers from the Volcanoes National Park to insure that the nests are not disturbed. Biologists hope that young turtles from these nests will eventually grow and return to the main Hawaiian Islands to nest.

According to Balazs, this large female probably crawled into the pond sometime this summer, probably after nesting on Punaluu beach. The animal was sighted on the beach in August by national park Hawksbill observers.

Balazs and UH Hilo MOP students have been studying the green sea turtles at Punaluu for almost 20 years. In that time, hundreds of green turtles have been observed, but the rescue of this Hawksbill was a first-time experience for all.

When asked about how it felt to be involved in the rescue of a rare Hawaiian Hawksbill turtle, one of the students summed up the thoughts of all by answering, "awesome."

-UH-