H Basking Honu Research ~Hawaiian Sea Turtles~€™s Basking Honu Research HWF has been monitoring...
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Transcript of H Basking Honu Research ~Hawaiian Sea Turtles~€™s Basking Honu Research HWF has been monitoring...
HWF’s Basking Education Project
Tumored and non-tumored juveniles and adults
(male and female) bask on dark, quiet beaches.
They are able to stay out of the ocean for hours
or even days at a time if not disturbed.
This seems to be a learned behavior, which is
increasing, but still rare enough that people
don’t expect to see turtles on shore. This
provides a remarkable setting to view turtles,
but introduces management challenges since
pono (“righteous”) turtle watching etiquette
needs to constantly be taught:
Trained HWF volunteer naturalists educate the
community about unique turtle behaviors and
life history to create a sense of respect through
coexistence and enjoyment for this species.
~Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund~ www.WildHawaii.org [email protected] 808-385-5464
HWF’s Basking Honu Research
HWF has been monitoring Ho‘okipa’s basking
honu since 2008. These turtles have exhibited a
noticeable behavior shift, as they only basked at
night until recently. They may feel more
comfortable emerging on shore (where they are
defenseless), and are basking during the day.
HWF uses zoom lenses and night vision cameras
to not disrupt their natural behaviors. We
record all entanglements, fibropapillomatosis
cases, injuries like shark bites, and signs of
nesting (Northwestern Hawaiian Island
biologists tag them and paint #s on their shells):
Individuals are recognized by the scale patterns
and pigmentations on their faces and flippers:
These patterns are like fingerprints, and by
matching them we’ve documented over 100
different individuals at Ho‘okipa (translated as
“hospitality”). We predict that more will start
basking if people show them true hospitality...
Please show turtles aloha!
~Hawaiian Sea Turtles~
Iconic Species That Need Your Help to Survive…
Multiple issues affect sea turtle recovery: fibropapillomatosis (a tumor-forming
disease), coral reef habitat degradation, nesting habitat alterations/loss,
interactions with nearshore fishing activities, boat strikes, marine debris
ingestion and entanglement, harassment, poaching, and climate change.
Please join HWF’s Turtle Team!
“Ho‘okuleana” means “to take responsibility”. It’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure that sea
turtles thrive for future generations to experience. Mahalo for your kōkua!
Hawaiian Sea Turtles
Five out of the seven global sea turtle species
can be found around Hawai‘i, but typically only
two inhabit the nearshore reef ecosystem:
greens “honu” (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbills
“honu ‘ea” or “ ‘ea” (Eretmochelys imbricata).
Critically endangered hawksbills are very rare,
with a total of only ~100 nesting females in all
of Hawai‘i. HWF has been conducting vital
hawksbill research and conservation projects
since 1996 (please see www.WildHawaii.org).
Due to protection under Federal and State laws
(late 1970s) and local conservation efforts, the
Hawaiian green turtle population (not the
hawksbill however) is making a comeback, but
is still listed as “threatened”.
It is illegal to harass (alter their natural
behavior, disturb, touch, chase, crowd, tease,
harm, or kill) all species of sea turtles.
Please treat them with respect!
Nesting Season (May-December)
Hawksbills only nest
within the Main
Hawaiian Islands of
the Archipelago.
Greens (~1,400 total
nesters) mostly nest
in the Northwestern
Hawaiian Islands,
but nesting is
increasing within
the Main Hawaiian
Islands. Please report turtle tracks right away.
Basking (Year-round)
It is called “basking” when green sea turtles
crawl ashore not for nesting purposes, and this
has only been documented in Hawai‘i and
Australia. No other species of sea turtles are
known to bask. It is a common occurrence in
the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, but
happens on a more limited basis in select areas
around the Main Hawaiian Islands.
Possible reasons that prompt basking behavior
are for the turtles to rest, raise their body
temperature and/or to avoid predators (sharks).
There may be other health-related benefits that
are currently not understood, possibly linked to
fibropapillomatosis, so it’s important that they
are never disturbed. Please report baskers so
that their health can be assessed.
Fibropapillomatosis (FP)
Fibropapillomatosis, a non-malignant tumor
forming disease, was first discovered in Florida
in 1938 and then in Hawai‘i in 1958. Only green
turtles initially contracted the disease, but it is
now spreading to other species worldwide. The
tumors proliferate on the turtle’s soft tissue and
if seen externally on a turtle, the tumors are
likely growing internally as well. FP is related to
a herpes virus, but its cause is still unknown and
there is no cure. Some tumors do regress
naturally. Surgery isn’t always successful due to
the deep-rooted tumors and the likelihood of
regrowth. Funding is needed for creating a
treatment facility for FP and other issues.