A Sociological Study: Human Interactions With Sea Turtles at Laniakea, on the Island of Oahu,Hawaii, 2002-2003

摘要

This study examined the interaction between humans and sea turtles, mainly at Laniakea on the north shore of the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The fascination that many people seem to have with sea turtles, the difference in attitude and behavior towards and regarding the turtles, if any, between visitors and residents, and the relatively new relationship between humans and sea turtles was examined through observations from August 2002 to June 2003. Interactions between humans and the turtles present at Laniakea were observed on most observation days. Most interactions were positive (i.e., not malicious), and often interactions were active such as feeding or touching turtles, as opposed to passive, on the part of the humans. A number of other observations about the basking turtles such as their size, the surf, and the types of human interactions are described. An ongoing conundrum of human interactions with wild animals in general is concern for disturbing the natural behavior of the animals versus encouraging interest in the animals, presumably leading to further support for their conservation.