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HOW’S THE LOCAL TURTLE POPULATION GOING? You can join a tour of the turtle hospital at Cairns Aquarium or the rehab
There’s good and bad news. The Hawksbill is listed as critically endangered centre on Fitzroy Island, accessible by ferry from Cairns. A new facility and
on the IUCN Red List; the Leatherback as vulnerable/endangered; and the education centre on Green Island was greenlit in October last year by the
Loggerhead as vulnerable. In better news, the Green sea turtle was officially Queensland Government, and a completion date has been set for 2027.
reclassified to ‘least concern’ as of October 2025.
There are many things that imperil our turtles, around Australia and the world
in general. cairnsturtlerehab.org.au
The number one threat is from marine plastics, including fishing lines, plastic
bags and microplastics which, when ingested, can cause turtles to float.
“Turtle float syndrome is very serious for them as they cannot feed, they get
stranded, and are at the mercy of predators,” says Edmonson. “But happily,
some are rescued and nursed back to health.” (See Izzy’s story below).
IZZY’S STORY
WHERE DO OUR LOCAL TURTLES NEST? Izzy, a 60-year-old Flatback turtle, was spotted floating about three miles
Nesting typically happens from November to March. The remote coral cay offshore from Port Douglas last spring by the Wavelength crew. She was
of Raine Island, up near the tip of Cape York, is known as the world’s largest rescued and taken to the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre at James Cook
rookery for the green turtle, with up to 60,000 females nesting in a single University in Cairns for urgent care.
season. (Access to the island is prohibited.) Closer to home, the crew from “Izzy had been attacked by a shark,” says Gilbert. “At 860mm across, she was
Sailaway Reef and Island Tours has reported seeing nesting tracks at Mackay not a small turtle, so it was not an easy rescue. She was very lucky to be found
Coral Cay, and there have been occasional sightings of nesting turtles at the and picked up, and to survive with such severe injuries. Turtles can float for
Low Isles and on neighbouring beaches to Port Douglas. days, be hit by a boat, or die of starvation. Without the wonderful boats and
Sea turtles rarely come onto beaches other than to lay eggs. If you come across their willingness to stop and rescue stranded animals, she would certainly
a turtle on the sand, give her plenty of space, as they can be easily spooked and have perished.”
abandon their attempt to nest. Turn off any lights and observe quietly from a Izzy had flipper injuries, which were treated daily by the dedicated volunteers
distance. Report any sightings via the QWildlife app. at the JCU facility, who patiently sat with her to try to get her eating. It took
six long weeks. But recover she did, and four months later, after a hearty
WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT TURTLES? breakfast of 50 squid, she was on her way home.
The Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre is a volunteer organisation dedicated “I was there when Izzy was released,” says Edmondson. “There was a lot of
to the rehabilitation of sick and injured turtles. excitement! We took her back out to Low Isles, close to where she was picked
“Depending on the seasons, on average over the past 12 months we have up some months before. She was carried down the back deck and tipped into
housed 15 turtles with seven releases and more to come,” says co-founder the water. She looked a bit stunned for a few seconds, and then realised she
Jenni Gilbert. was free and took off! It was so special to be there, and I hope she can live a
good, long life.”
“We rehabilitate turtles injured by marine debris, boat strike, illegal hunting,
entanglement in discarded fishing apparatus, as well as those who face natural
threats from sharks and crocodiles.”

Jennie Gilbert in action PHOTO CREDIT Cairns Aquarium
PORT DOUGLAS MAGAZINE 87