Loggerhead Turtle Hatchlings: 4,000 Tiny Reasons to Celebrate
More than 4,000 Loggerhead turtle hatchlings made their way safely into the sea, thanks to the help of hardworking volunteers.
A dedicated team of about 70 Sunshine Coast volunteers are celebrating a wonderful outcome of the turtle nesting season: 4,000 Loggerhead hatchlings (Caretta caretta) have survived the treacherous journey from their nests into the sea.
Turtle Care Sunshine Coast and Coolum Coast Care help ensure hatching survival with a monitoring program for nesting beaches. Turtle nests are identified, recorded, and protected from predators (such as foxes).
According to My Sunshine Coast, 56 Loggerhead nests were identified this season between Caloundra’s Kings Beach and Noosa Heads.
Turtle Care Sunshine Coast coordinator Julie O”Connor is pleased with the results:
Given that there are only around 500 nesting Loggerheads along Australia’s east coast, the Sunshine Coast population is small but significant.
At the end of each turtle nesting season, volunteers enjoy a barbeque and celebrate their important contribution to the survival of endangered Loggerhead turtles.
Here’s to the volunteers!
Image source: istock.com
