Tropical turtle rescued from Albany

A loggerhead turtle found washed ashore at Cheyne Beach earlier this month has been successfully rehabilitated in Exmouth.

The tropical and subtropical animal was found suffering exposure to cold waters.

Department of Parks and Wildlife regional wildlife officer Cameron Craigie said a strong current was thought to have pushed the turtle to Albany.

“Juvenile loggerhead turtles are often very small – hatching at about 10cm in length on our northern beaches in April and May,” he said.

The turtle was released at Exmouth on 9 March after being transported to the Perth Zoo for treatment and completing rehabilitation at the Aquarium of WA.

Loggerhead turtles are listed as endangered under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950.

The loggerhead has been fitted with a satellite tracker and Pilbara region marine conservation officer Joanne King said tagging was important to identify individual marine turtles and determine their success once released into the wild.

“This information could be determined when they come back to nest, are sighted in their foraging grounds or are found deceased,” she said.

“Long term projects such as this are important as turtles have a complex life cycle and trends in population numbers can be detected over decades, thereby improving management of this threatened species.”

The turtle can be followed at http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/?project_id=879.

Call Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9055 if marine life is found washed ashore.