Another turtle now on the mend

NOT SO FLASH: The ailing turtle found on 90 Mile Beach.

Another ailing sea turtle has been found on 90 Mile Beach, and is now receiving what is hoped will be life-saving treatment at Auckland Zoo.

The green turtle was found at Coal Creek, five kilometres north of Waipapakauri Ramp, by a member of the public. It was cared for by a Department of Conservation ranger overnight, and transported to Auckland Zoo the following day. It is currently in the zoo's vet centre, where it is receiving 'supportive therapy' for exhaustion and dehydration.

If it recovers it will be transferred to Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium for long-term rehabilitation, and returned to the sea off the Poor Knights or a Far North beach next summer.

Turtle expert Dan Godoy said the people who found the 24kg turtle initially tried to return it to the water, but the sea was rough and it was unable to swim on its own.

"It's not a good idea to refloat them. They've stranded for a reason, usually because they're sick or weak," he said.

Instead he advised anyone who found a stranded turtle to call the 24-hour DOC hotline (0800 DOC HOT) so a ranger trained in looking after the creatures could be alerted.

Turtles should not be handled, unless in immediate danger, and should not be returned to the water.

If necessary they could be moved out of the weather into a more sheltered area, but, unlike beached marine mammals, there was no need to keep them cool.

Mr Godoy, a PhD candidate at Massey University, said his research had found that northern New Zealand was part of the green turtle's year-round natural range. They did not normally come ashore except, in more tropical climes, to lay their eggs. Their nearest breeding populations were on Australia's east coast and in New Caledonia.

Green sea turtles can live for up to 80 years and weigh up to 190kg.