Yamba locals watch release of rehabilitated green turtles

An excited group of around 20 Yamba locals and visitors watched as a rehabilitated juvenile and two hatchling green turtles were released from Pippi Beach on Tuesday evening.

The juvenile green turtle had been found washed ashore at Yamba’s Whiting Beach in late January entangled with fishing line and hooks. It would not have survived, without rehabilitation at the Australian Seabird Rescue  facilities in Ballina.

The two hatchlings were survivors from a nest where at least 47 turtles hatchlings emerged from their sand nest to make their way to the water earlier this month.

Yamba locals Tania Creber and Gab Hawke, who discovered the nest in January, had been monitoring it every day.

Australian Seabird Rescue (ASR), National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and other community members also began monitoring sand temperature, as this is critical for nesting success.

NPWS Ranger Louise Feltus said green turtles generally nest further north in Queensland and this is believed to be the fifth record of a green turtle nest this far south.

“We have been fortunate with this nest, as we knew when it was laid and expected to hatch. Having locals keeping an eye to report this hatching event has been fantastic,” Ms Feltus said.

“Australian Seabird Rescue has done a fabulous job working with the local community about turtle nests and the best way to help protect them.

“Green turtles usually lay about 150 eggs per nest and the hatchlings usually emerge when there is a full moon, and in the middle of the night.

“However, on average, out of every 1000 turtles that hatch, one might survive to adulthood.”

Locals along the Far North Coast have been monitoring their beaches for nesting sea turtles since the beginning of summer as part of the Australian Seabird Rescue’s ‘Make Turtles Count’ project.

General manager Rochelle Ferris said they have been overwhelmed by the public interest in the project.

“Many locals weren’t aware that sea turtles nest in our region, but once the tracks became evident they really took ownership of their beaches to protect this crucial habitat from threats such as dogs and four-wheel-drive vehicles. All sea turtles species are in decline and they need all the help they can get,” Ms Ferris said.

PICTURE: A file shot of a green turtle, courtesy of NSW Marine Parks Authority.

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2. Get up close and personal with turtles
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4. New ASR project aims to monitor sea turtle nesting, hatching
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Related posts:

1. Seabird Rescue wants Green Corps team members
2. Get up close and personal with turtles
3. Check out the turtles at Australian Seabird Rescue
4. New ASR project aims to monitor sea turtle nesting, hatching
5. Australian Seabird Rescue to offer guided holiday tours