Aspecial project based in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has been monitoring and protecting nesting hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and their habitat since 1989.
Aspecial project based in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has been monitoring and protecting nesting hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and their habitat since 1989.
Honu‘ea are critically endangered: A mere 140 nesting females have been documented in the state, most of them on Hawaii Island. Nesting season for these rare and beautiful creatures began in May and continues through December. Between five and 15 individuals will come ashore in a given season, then not return for three to five years.
Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project coordinator Lauren Kurpita will give a presentation about the sea reptile from 7-8:30 p.m. Monday at the Lyman Museum. Kurpita will discuss some of the differences between the hawksbill and green turtle species, current threats to the hawksbills and conservation efforts underway to help protect the species from extinction.
The presentation is free for Lyman Museum members and $3 for nonmembers.
The nationally accredited and Smithsonian-affiliated Lyman Museum, located at 276 Haili St. in Hilo, showcases the natural and cultural history of Hawaii.
The museum is open 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
For more information, call 935-5021 or visit www.lymanmuseum.org.