Researchers from the Department of Environment and Science have jumped from boats onto the backs of hundreds of sea turtles in the name of conservation and science.
The spectacle, popularly dubbed a ‘turtle rodeo’, saw the scientists head out onto Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Strait in a special operation to track, tag and assess close to 200 marine turtles.
Minister for the Environment, Meaghan Scanlon said marine turtles were intrinsically linked to the Great Barrier Reef and Great Sandy Marine Park.
“Their health is vital to the health of the ecosystems they live in — healthy turtles and a healthy reef aren’t just crucial to our environment, but also to the good tourism jobs and great lifestyle we have in Queensland,” Ms Scanlon said.
“Researchers took details of the turtle’s gender, maturity and breeding status as each turtle is tagged, weighed and measured and blood samples taken for analysis of health and toxicology before they are released back to the ocean.”
She said the research would play a role in informing the actions taken in light of flood impacts.
Leading the work was the Department’s Chief Scientific Officer, Col Limpus.
“As part of the operation, conservation officers, rangers and scientists from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, alongside Griffith University researchers, two external veterinarians and local community volunteers, safely captured and assessed the marine turtles,” Dr Limpus said.
“A small skin sample was taken from each turtle for genetic analysis to define where the foraging turtles resident within the Great Sandy Marine Park migrate to for breeding.”
He said satellite tags might be deployed on a select few turtles to track their migratory paths and movements while feeding and breeding.
