Lost Loggerhead turtles recuperating at Sea World
Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly
Yesterday Sea World became the temporary home to three rescued Loggerhead turtle hatchlings after they were found in various locations on Australia’s Gold Coast.
One of the turtles was found in Biggera Waters by a Sea World employee as she was on her morning walk along the Broadwater. Another was found by a fishing charter crew approximately five nautical miles off the coast, who noticed a flock of sea birds attacking the young hatchling in open waters. And the third hatchling was found in the lounge room of a local resident who suspects that her cat may have carried the baby turtle inside her home.
The three hatchlings are approximately several days old and are believed to be from the same clutch despite being found in different locations. The babies are in surprisingly good health and are feeding well at Sea World’s Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.
Sea World’s Curator of Fish, Marnie Horton, said that the hatchlings are very lucky to be alive considering the dangers they may have faced.
“The Loggerhead nest, which is thought to be along the banks of the Broadwater, is in a particularly difficult position for the hatchlings as they must navigate their way through the dangerous Broadwater into open sea,” Horton said.
The Loggerhead turtle is on the Endangered Species List, with numbers constantly dwindling. There are only approximately 300 breeding females left in Australian waters so the survive of these hatchlings is of great importance to the species.
Comments are closed.