Sea Turtle Update - The Brave And Protected Ones Promote Sea Turtle Awareness
Dolphin Quest Oahu’s two new green sea turtles have grown dramatically. In the six months since their arrival, they have almost doubled in size.
Previously known by non-toxic identification numbers painted on their shells, the turtles have received Hawaiian names selected from a contest. Number 44 is now Kamalu (“the protected one”) and Number 55 is Kekoa (“the brave one”). Although the numbers have disappeared from the turtles’ shells, guests can still tell the siblings apart. Kamalu (pictured) has bright, white tips on the front flippers while Kekoa is larger and has a darker shell.
Every two weeks Dolphin Quest Oahu (DQO) measures and weighs the turtles according to international research standards. This provides consistent data, which is shared with the conservation and research communities. Kamalu currently weighs in at 12 pounds and Kekoa at 20 pounds.
The turtles have learned to swim to individual stations for feeding. Kamalu prefers the food served wrapped in lettuce while Kekoa eats the cubes plain. Even though the turtles receive a special diet prepared by DQO’s aquarist, the animals keep their foraging skills and graze on algae throughout their lagoon.
As part of an ambassador program, the two-year-old reptiles help educate visitors about the endangered sea turtles’ plight. DQO will release the turtles, which were hatched at Sea Life Park on Oahu, into the ocean when they reach approximately three years of age and weigh more than 70 pounds.
