The rescued sea turtles have been released after a stint at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s AquariumThe Aquarium is part of Team Turtle along with Auckland Zoo and the Department of Conservation, with support from Air
New Zealand
Two rescued sea turtles have been released back into the ocean after undergoing successful rehabilitation stints at SEA
LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium.
A team from the Aquarium were joined by kaumatua of Ngātiwai for the heart-warming release of Kibou and Spock, who
returned to the ocean off the coast of Tutukaka after receiving a karakia.
Ocean Youth participants and Auckland Zoo veterinary staff also helped give the turtles a delightful send-off.
Kibou is a loggerhead turtle who was found stranded on Muriwai Beach and came to SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s in October
2019 suffering from a severe shoulder wound and a nasty lung infection. Following urgent treatment at Auckland Zoo’s vet
hospital, the team nursed him back to health with intensive care and antibiotic treatments, eventually helping him to
recover and gain an impressive 13kgs ahead of his release.
Spock is a green sea turtle who was also found on Muriwai Beach and came to the team in September 2020. Spock had
serious injuries to the digits on both of her front flippers that had to be amputated. Thanks to the amputation of these
digits, Spock has made a full recovery and was ready to return to the ocean.
Although turtles breed in the tropics and subtropics, five of the seven turtle species are seen in New Zealand waters.
Team Turtle urges people to report injured or stranded turtles to the DOC emergency hotline on 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362
468).
The release of Kibou and Spock took place on Wednesday 17 March, the 35th anniversary of the passing of globally
renowned adventurer Kelly Tarlton, who founded the Aquarium to share the wonders of the ocean and its inhabitants.
According to Louise Greenshields from SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s, the annual turtle release is always an incredibly
rewarding experience and this year was no different.
“It’s always emotional when we release turtles back into the ocean as it’s a time for us to reflect on how far they have
come during the rehabilitation process. Our team of Aquarists work with these turtles every day and form a genuine
attachment so Kibou and Spock will certainly be missed but we wish them all the very best,” said Louise Greenshields.
“I would love to say that all turtles are as lucky as Kibou and Spock but unfortunately that’s not the case as there are
significant threats facing turtles in the wild. Most of the turtles that come through our Turtle Rehabilitation Centre
have been affected by human impacts of some kind, whether it be boat strikes, entanglement, plastic ingestion or habitat
destruction. Our aim is to educate the public and encourage behavioural change.”
SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s is home to New Zealand’s only Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, which has rehabilitated and
released over 50 sea turtles over the past 23 years. The Aquarium is part of Team Turtle, which also includes Auckland
Zoo and the Department of Conservation, with support from Air New Zealand.
“Providing the initial emergency veterinary treatment then follow-ups for these turtles that are critically ill when DOC
first brings them to us, and working alongside our conservation colleagues at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s to help give
these marine animals a second chance at life, is a real privilege and incredibly rewarding,” said Dr James Chatterton,
Veterinary Services Manager at Auckland Zoo.
“Conservation is all about working together and sharing expertise to achieve the best outcomes for wildlife and Team
Turtle is a fantastic example of this.”
According to Julie Kidd, Strategic Partnerships Advisor, Department of Conservation: “It is very exciting to see
rehabilitated turtles returned to wild. We love working in partnership with the team of experts at SEA LIFE Kelly
Tarlton’s.”
Kibou and Spock were first treated behind the scenes in the Aquarium’s Turtle Rehabilitation Centre before moving into
the Turtle Bay display, where they were ambassadors for their species, helping educate guests on the need for
conservation and protection. Now that Kibou and Spock have returned to the ocean, Turtle Bay is still a temporary home
to rescued sea turtles including Taka, Puck and Abbey until they too are ready to return to sea.
SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s is also home to magnificent sand tiger sharks, New Zealand’s only colony of Sub-Antarctic
penguins, hundreds of different fish species, and many more marine creatures.
The Aquarium is open Thursday – Monday during the school term and seven days a week during the school holidays. All
visitors must pre-book their tickets online in advance. Visit www.kellytarltons.co.nz for further information.
Download high res images here
Download b-roll video here (includes interviews with Daniel Henderson from SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s, Stefan Saverimuttu from Auckland Zoo and Louise Greenshields from SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s)
Download edited videos here