Hundreds of people waded through the knee-high water at the entrance of Avaavarua Passage in Rarotonga to accompany a trio of rescue turtles on the first leg of their release into the wild.

Green sea turtles Meanie, Miney, and Mo were newly-hatched when they were plucked from a beach in Manihiki by a Rarotonga family who wanted to keep them as pets – an action which poses a threat to the endangered species, Ministry of Marine Resources Cook Islands (MMR) marine scientist Kirby Morejohn said.

“They swim many thousands of kilometres. They don’t do well confined as pets,” Morejohn, who is part of MMR’s inshore division, told those gathered to watch the release on Sunday afternoon.

Morejohn said other threats to green sea turtles – as well as another species of sea turtle found in Cook Islands waters, the “significantly threatened” Hawksbill – included ingesting plastic, getting entangled and strangled in nets, and being harvested for food.

Discover Marine and Wildlife Eco-Centre owner Stephenie Jansen said she was “thrilled” to share the release of the three turtles with the community.

“We’re so pleased to see so many people.”

Jansen said the trio had been surrendered to the eco-centre after developing a fungal infection while being kept in fresh water. With the help of Te Are Manu Veterinary Clinic, her team got the ailment under control and took care of the turtles until they were large enough to release.

“We’ve been taking the turtles out for little swims, just to get them used it.”

Morejohn said when MMR was surveying sea turtles in the Pa Enua, they co-ordinated with Jansen.

“There are many more turtles in the wild that wouldn’t be otherwise without her.”

At the release of Meanie, Miney, and Mo – the hundreds of people gathered walked alongside the turtles as they shuffled down the beach and into the water.

Go Local and other turtle tour operators joined Jansen and her team as they continued into the depths of the passage.

Jansen said the trio’s shells were engraved with an “island tattoo” which would last between one and two years, making it easier for turtle tour operators to keep an eye on them.

Te Ipukarea Society director Alanna Smith said the environmental non-government organisation would be adding the trio to a database designed to track the movement of turtles around Rarotonga.

Smith took identification photos of the left side of each turtles face before their release, as the markings on that area of their bodies were as unique as a human fingerprint.

“This is a citizen scientist programme, so anyone can get involved,” she said.

“If you take a photo of a turtle, especially of the left side of their face, please send it to us.

“You can help contribute to science and data.”

Joanne Holden