Some times you don’t have to look much farther than your own nose to learn the truth behind puzzling questions. This gathering of sea turtles here on Maui was called “first ever” seen by Alison Cohan…
At around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, an estimated 75 green sea turtles were observed near the Maui Electric Co Ltd Kahului Generating Station in Central Maui. Wailuku resident and employee of The Nature Conservancy, Alison Cohan snapped this photo saying she’s never seen anything quite like it.
We have actually visited this place in the past since we were told by a few local residents that many green sea turtles like to gather in that specific location. The temperature of the waters near the power plant is warmer than other places ( I touched it myself that night ) reason why we see more than the normal amount of green sea turtles there. The electric power plant uses ocean waters to cool down its systems and the water that cooled the systems returns to the ocean, a little warmer.
We are not sure why the numbers have grown on the area but we personally witnessed over 30 turtles at that same spot a few years ago. So, do turtles have telephones and just tell each other where the waters are warm? How do they know to go there?
We don’t have the answer for that question but we believe that if a green sea turtle was to swim near by these waters, it would notice or feel the change in temperature and perhaps get closer to the source, perhaps join the party?
In Florida, when the winter time comes, the manatees are seen resting near the waters surrounding nuclear power plants. Why?
Because of the constant flow of warm water being expelled by the power plant. The same is occurring here on Maui and most likely anywhere in the world where warm water is being discharged in to the ocean.
So next time you are faced with a puzzling question, start with the obvious and work your way up.
Aloha
~Oriana