Aussie locals help slow turtle’s rush to extinction - May 22 2008

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Aussie locals help slow turtle’s rush to extinction - May 22 2008

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<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Locals on the north coast of the Australian state of New South Wales are helping save endangered turtles with more than two dozen sick or injured sea turtles being recovered from Clarence beaches in the past 12 months before beginning the slow rehabilitation process at Coffs Harbour’s Pet Porpoise Pool.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

To mark Word Turtle Day (Friday 23 May) 4 green sea turtles that have spent several months in recovery with the Pet Porpoise Pool have been successfully rehabilitated and are now due for release as soon as sea conditions permit.

Pet Porpoise Pool’s Senior Curator Greg Pickering said across the world our much-loved sea turtles, including green turtles such as these, are experiencing a substantial decline and World Turtle Day aims to raise awareness of their plight.

“The causes of decline are attributed to turtles getting caught in fishing and trawling nets, disease increases, ingestion of plastics and loss of nesting habitat,” Mr Pickering said.

“Turtles really only come ashore to nest so most found on our beaches are sick or injured and need our help,” he said.

“People can help by reporting any turtles they find to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) who can assess its condition before bringing it in to care, for rehabilitation and release.”

NPWS Clarence Coast Area Manager Andrew Lugg said four species of turtles, loggerhead, green, hawksbill and leatherback, are found throughout north coast waters, including the Solitary Islands Marine Park.

“Green sea turtles are most commonly seen, often popping up for a breath around the base of headlands and Muttonbird Island,” Mr Lugg said.

“Divers can also get a glimpse of turtles hiding under rock ledges at popular dive sites such as Split and South Solitary Islands.

“Green turtles feed on seagrass, algae, sea sponges and jelly fish.  Plastics represent a problem for turtles as they can often look like jelly fish.

“Ingestion of plastics can block the turtle’s digestive system leading to death. Water pollution can lead to increased bacteria which can cause a build up of gas inside the turtle’s stomach, called ‘floating syndrome’, preventing it from diving and eventually leading to death.”

“Turtles that are unable to dive are also at greater risk from predators and of being hit by boats.

“One positive in turtle conservation has been the introduction of Turtle Exclusion Devises (TEDs), grids in trawl nets that exclude turtles and other large animals, now compulsory in all ocean and estuary prawn trawl nets which save hundreds of turtles from drowning each year.”

ENDS

Turtle facts

Sea turtles are listed as threatened and protected and managed under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974).

Only 1 in every 10,000 turtle that hatches will survive to adulthood.

Turtles reach maturity between 30-50 years and can live to up to 100 years.

Green turtles are named for the greenish fat found under their carapace (shell).

Sea turtles have swum in our oceans for around 220 million years.

What you can do to help sea turtles;

Pick up litter, particularly plastics, from beaches and around water ways.

Watch out for turtles on the sea surface when boating.

Report injured and stranded turtles to your nearest National Parks and Wildlife office.