Hatchlings emerge at Mon Repos Turtle Centre

The Mon Repos Turtle Centre located near Bundaberg has advised that hatchlings are starting to emerge and are making their way to the ocean.

January signals the start of hatchling season and a clutch of loggerheads emerged on 3rd January 2022.

Queensland Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon notes “so far this season, 187 loggerhead, eight flatbacks and five green turtles have nested on the Woongarra Coast.

“Research has shown that new hatchlings face threats such as light pollution, natural and introduced predators, and plastic pollution to name a few.”

As well as being a globally recognised marine turtle nesting site, Mon Repos plays a key role in public education about marine turtle conservation.

Annual turtle tours, led by rangers and volunteers, teach visitors about more than 50 years of turtle research and conservation efforts.

This season, more than 5000 visitors have taken part in turtle tours at Mon Repos, with numbers reduced on previous years due to COVID.

Mon Repos turtle tours are conducted during the turtle breeding season, between November and March each year.

Visitors will need to adhere to Queensland Health guidelines which involves all visitors having received two doses a COVID-19 vaccine and using a QR code to check in upon arrival.

More information about the Mon Repos Turtle Centre is available at parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/mon-repos.