Remarkable Recovery of Endangered TurtleRemarkable Recovery of Endangered Turtle A young hawksbill turtle named Hine Kopenu has made an extraordinary recovery after being discovered near death on Muriwai Beach last November. Hine has now regained her health and will soon be put on display at Turtle Bay at Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s in Auckland. Upon her discovery, Hine was in critical condition, exhibiting severe lethargy, pneumonia, and grazed eyes. Her weight had dropped to a mere 6 kilograms. Isabella Jansen, an aquarist at Kelly Tarlton’s, described her as “very sick” with the worst blood results the veterinary team had ever encountered. Despite her dire state, Hine received expert care and rehabilitation at Kelly Tarlton’s. With round-the-clock attention and specialized treatment, she slowly regained her strength and vitality. Hine’s recovery is a testament to the resilience of these endangered creatures and the dedication of the aquarium’s staff. Hine Kopenu Hine Kopenu is a Hawksbill Turtle, a species listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). These turtles are known for their distinctive beak-like mouths and brightly colored shells. Hine’s name, which means “daughter of the ocean” in Māori, reflects her deep connection to the marine environment. Turtle Bay at Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s Turtle Bay is a state-of-the-art exhibit at Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s, dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of sea turtles. Hine Kopenu will join other turtles at Turtle Bay, including rescued and rehabilitated individuals from around New Zealand. Visitors to Turtle Bay will have the opportunity to learn about the challenges facing sea turtles and the efforts being made to protect them.
Hine Kopenu, an endangered Hawksbill Turtle, gets her first dive in Turtle Bay at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium. Photo / Jason Oxenahm
A young hawksbill turtle has made a remarkable recovery after being found near death on an Auckland beach. He is now well enough to go on display at Turtle Bay at Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s on Auckland’s waterfront.
Hine Kopenu was found in a very poor condition on Muriwai beach last November.
Hine is placed in Turtle Bay by aquarists Matt Cleland and Isabella Jansen. Photo / Jason Oxenham
“She was very lethargic, very underconditioned,” Isabella Jansen, an aquarist at Kelly Tarlton, told the Herald. “She had pneumonia and her eyes were grazed. She was very sick and weighed only 6 kg.”
Hine is believed to be the sickest turtle ever found alive on the coast of Aotearoa New Zealand, and had the worst blood results the veterinary team has ever seen.
