I first heard about this story on CNN a couple of days ago, and it was just so heartbreaking, and yet, so affirming of my belief that even the littlest of God's creatures feel emotion, that i just had to share it with you. I went on the Hawaiian newspaper website and am reprinting this story by news reporter Ron Mizutani because i don't think i can explain it better then he does. His article picks up after the slaughter of a popular sea turtle over the weekend. Some of the locals created a memorial at the beach where the turtle died...and then something happened....
Nature at its Finest
By Ron Mizutani
When it comes to science, there is a strong effort not to give animals human characteristics, like feelings and emotions. But something happened at Laniakea Beach on Oahu's north shore Monday afternoon that challenges this concept and makes you appreciate nature at its finest.
Dozens of people flock the shoreline at Laniakea Beach hoping to get a glimpse of the Hawaiian Sea Turtle. News of the slaughtering of "Honey Girl" a frequent visitor to Turtle Beach, has generated even more interest in the threatened species.
"Look at how much joy people get out of this and then something like this somebody does something horrible it's terrible," said Heidi Walden an Ewa Beach resident.
But what happened Monday afternoon tugs at your heart even more. A large male, known as "Kuhina" suddenly appeared on the shore and quietly made his way to a memorial that volunteers had set up for Honey Girl.
"They had to move the ropes aside so he could come straight up through and just came up and put his head right near the memorial right near the picture and just stayed," said Michelle Meeks of Malama Na Honu.
Kuhina stayed for hours. Volunteers say it appeared as if he never took his eyes off her picture.
"Heart breaking to see those images but it was also so touching just to see him come up and be so close to the memorial it was almost like he was coming up to say good-bye," said Meeks.
Visitors are moved by the powerful images.
"Look at that -- quite unbelievable -- oh my -- nature is unreal isn't it -- just so fantastic," said Val Leech of South Africa. "That's unbelievable very sad."
"To me this is heart-breaking -- it's just so sad -- it's like he's grieving -- sad -- very sad," said Walden.
Science often discourages attribution of human motivation or behavior in animals. This story provides a different perspective.
"The way we've given names to the individuals here that is kind of borderline to me but now I feel its good to have those connections with the individuals," said scientific illustrator Michelle Schwengel, who also volunteers for Malama Na Honu.
An example of nature teaching us a lesson on life.
"I think that they're more connected to their feelings probably then we are. So we can really learn something from them and what he did," said Meeks.
"Because they know -- very sad -its awful, I hope it doesn't happen again," added Walden.
Cindy's note: Here's hoping it doesn't happen again, and here's hoping they catch the creeps that did this soon, because honestly, if someone can kill a sea turtle for no reason, what stops that person from upping the ante to a defenseless human.
