Indian Ocean - South-East Asian Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding

Queensland sea turtle nesting season begins

29 Dec 2006

Marine experts are warning people to be on the lookout for sea turtles nesting on beaches in far north Queensland. Turtles have already begun laying eggs and will continue up until April.

Sarah Salmon from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority says only one out of every 1,000 baby turtles will survive. She is asking people not to shine torches on the turtles.

"Most turtles come up to the beach and lay their eggs in the evening or at night, so people who encounter them might have had torches, might have been going for a walk so we just encourage those people not to shine the light directly on to the animal," she said.

"If they shine into her face then quite often she's disturbed and will head back to sea."

Source:	http://www.abc.net.au
Actual link:	http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200612/s1819142.htm

Home » Headline (Archive) » 29 December 2006