In September 2022, 2 green turtles were welcomed to the Moorea Sea turtle care center. First, Hélice, a sub-adult green turtle joined the Center after her 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 following a fatal injury from a boat propeller. Hélice had been seen alive by a boat excursion company but unfortunately could not be immediately recovered. Looking at what was left of her body from post-mortem natural predation, the obvious collision with a boat’s propeller was confirmed.
Also in September, Yo, a sub-adult green sea turtle was found dead on Paopao beach in Moorea with a 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 to her shell. Given the injury, a boat collision leaves little doubt.
In October 2022, Here joined the Care Center. She had a 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 on her shell revealing internal organs, including her lungs. Again, given the type of injury, a collision with a boat is the most likely hypothesis.
That same month, Lilly joined our residents after being picked up by Nemoz diving club with a 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 located on her 4th vertebral scale. The dent again is typical of a collision case.
Finally, at the beginning of November, Jo Iti joined the Center following a 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆 looking once again like it was created by a collision.
This succession of individuals found injured or dead in Moorea lagoon suggests a clear link between the growing presence of turtles in Moorea lagoon and an excessive speed observed and reported on several occasions; a speed that is limited to 5 knots.
𝙒𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚 !
Partners: Direction de l’Environnement Polynésie Française, Pacific Beachcomber, Moorea Dolphin Center, Jean-François Clervoy, Vilebrequin, Fondation Vilebrequin, Frank Lehot, Air Tahiti Nui, Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, Les Laboratoires de Biarritz, Nomad Costmetics, IFBD, Manahei Creations, Univairmer
