Rescued turtle
to be releasedThe green sea turtle was found
last week with a spear in its neck
WAILUKU >> State wildlife officials planned today to release into the ocean a green sea turtle that survived being speared in the neck.
The 140-pound turtle, which was flown to Oahu after its rescue, had a rusty 6-inch spear surgically removed from its neck Friday by a veterinarian.
It is scheduled to be flown back to the Valley Isle today and released off Puu Olai in South Maui, where it was rescued by state wildlife officials.
Meanwhile, state enforcement officials are investigating the spearing of the turtle and also the death of another green turtle that was found on Aug. 8 with a noose around its neck on a beach in Lahaina.
The rope was tied to a metal spike in the sand.
Green sea turtles are a threatened species and protected by state and federal laws.
A person found guilty of purposefully injuring a green sea turtle could face fines of up to $5,000 per violation and administrative fees up to $10,000.
Deborah Ward, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, said wildlife officials are worried about what appears to be an increase in the number of reported turtle injuries, including those injured by fishhooks.
Skippy Hau, a state wildlife biologist, said he has received several reports of fishhooks in turtles. Hau said green turtles normally feed on vegetation but can develop an inclination to go for food on fishhooks, if fed by human beings.
"That's why we want people not to feed the turtles," he said.
