Turtle ‘Kurt’ Returns to Ocean in Tahiti

Why this is here: Kurt Wong Sang, age 21, discovered the turtle while on a fishing trip and promptly brought it to rescuers.

Kurt Wong Sang, a 21-year-old fisherman in Tahiti, French Polynesia, rescued a young hawksbill turtle weeks ago. He found the turtle weak and not moving while fishing. After care at the Temana O Te Moana rescue center, the two-year-old turtle received the name “Kurt” and was released back into the ocean.

Hawksbill turtles face critical endangerment in the Pacific. A 2023 study estimates only about 4800 adult female hawksbills remain, a drop of over 75% from historical numbers. Temana O Te Moana also works to educate the public.

The association hopes to encourage local authorities to regulate boat speeds. Many turtles die each year from collisions with vessels and from ingesting plastic.

Hawksbills typically do not lay eggs on Tahitian beaches, adding to the challenge of population recovery. The organization continues its work to protect these vulnerable animals.