Tahiti: Young hawksbill turtle nicknamed 'Kurt' released into the ocean

A young hawksbill turtle, now nicknamed 'Kurt', was released into the ocean last week on French Polynesia's main island of Tahiti.

During the release ceremony, the turtle was allowed to rejoin her environment, after she was rescued a few weeks earlier, thanks to a young fisherman named Kurt Wong Sang.

"I was fishing and then I saw this turtle was not moving, she looked very weak. So I tried to pick her up", the 21-year-old man told public broadcaster Polynésie La Première.

He said he was very pleased to know that the two-year-old turtle was now well and that she had been named after him.

"It's like a small mascot, for me, I'm pleased to know a little turtle has been named after me".

Hawksbill turtles in the Pacific are classified as "critically endangered". According to a 2023 University of Sunshine Coast study, "only approximately 4800 adult female hawksbill turtles are thought to remain in the Pacific Ocean, a reduction of more than 75 percent when compared to historic levels."

During her recovery time, Kart was taken care of by local Tahitian association Temana O Te Moana, which has a rescue centre dedicated to the turtles.

"She really had an energy issue", said marine veterinarian and Association founding member Cécile Gaspar.

"Usually, the hawksbill turtle, as a species, does not lay her eggs on our beaches".

As part of its struggle to sensitise the general public on the need to protect marine turtles, Temana O Te Moana is trying to have local authorities better regulate and limit the speed of vessels.

"Each year, many turtles die as a result of being hit with marine vessels," Gaspar said.

"And there are those who die after ingesting plastic waste."