Featured Image Credit: Maui Now
By Alice Morris
The Maui Ocean Center in Wailuku Hawaii recently welcomed six Hawaiian green sea turtle hatchlings into its ‘ohana and while the turtles have settled nicely into their new homes, they’re missing just one thing… names!
The aquarium is calling upon the public to help name the adorable 4-month old sea turtles with the launch of a naming competition on its social media sites.
Photos and descriptions of each of the hatchlings have been posted on Maui Ocean Center’s Facebook page.
The turtles’ names will all be Hawaiian and the Aquarium’s Hawaiian Cultural Advisor will select the winning names for each turtle during the first week of January.
The hatchlings’ descriptions are as follows:
Turtle #2 weighs 8.35 ounces and is described as laid-back and indifferent
Turtle #3 weighs 5.9 ounces and is the smallest of the hatchlings, but adventurous nonetheless.
Turtle #5 weighs 7.3 ounces and is the defender of the group, as well as a hunter.
Turtle #7 weighs 7.05 ounces and is endearing and a cruiser.
Turtle #9 weighs 6.4 ounces and is the most assertive and headstrong of the bunch.
Finally, Turtle #11 weighs 7.45 ounces and is described as persistent and eager.
The winners of the naming competition will receive a behind-the-scenes tour and photos with the hatchling they named.
The sea turtles will stay with the Maui Ocean Center for the next two years. During that time they will serve as ambassadors of their species in the Sea Life Park’s Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle Educational Loan Program.
The aim of this program is to raise awareness for the green sea turtle and to teach visitors about threats that the species faces and how they can become involved in protecting the species.
After two years in the program, the aquarium will say ‘aloha’ to the sea turtles and release them back into the ocean.
The green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas is listed as endangered by the IUCN and CITES, granting it protection in most countries within its range in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world.
You can track the results of the naming competition and learn more about the Maui Ocean Center on their website or Facebook page.
Good luck to all contestants who entered the competition. We can’t wait to sea who the winner will be!