Queensland scientists conduct sea turtle rodeos to support conservation efforts

Queensland scientists continue to play a significant role in protecting the Great Barrier reef ecosystems by having recently leapt from boats onto the backs of hundreds of sea turtles.

The ‘turtle rodeo’, saw experts head out onto Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Strait in a special operation to track, tag and assess close to 200 marine turtles.

Sea turtles are intrinsically linked to the Great Barrier Reef and Great Sandy Marine Park. Their health is vital to health of the ecosystems they live in.

Queensland Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon notes “Healthy turtles and a healthy reef aren’t just crucial to our environment, but also to the good tourism jobs and great lifestyle we have in Queensland.

“Researchers took details of the turtle’s gender, maturity and breeding status as each turtle is tagged, weighed and measured and blood samples taken for analysis of health and toxicology before they are released back to the ocean.

“The research captured here will play a huge role in informing the actions we take, especially in light of the impacts of the floods.”

Leading the work was DES Chief Scientific Officer Dr Col Limpus, who has played a significant role in turtle conservation and education efforts in Queensland for more than 50 years.

Turtle rodeos are also used by researchers in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, The United States and South America as an effective method for studying marine turtles at sea.

As part of the operation, conservation officers, rangers and scientists from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) alongside Griffith University researchers, two external veterinarians and local community volunteers travelled within Hervey Bay and Great Sandy Strait to safely capture and assess marine turtles.

“A small skin sample will be taken from each turtle for genetic analysis to define where the foraging turtles resident within the Great Sandy Marine Park migrate to for breeding,” Dr Limpus said.

“Satellite tags may be deployed on a select few turtles to track their migratory paths and movements while feeding and breeding.”

Minister Scanlon said researchers assessed the health, toxicology and population function of nearly 200 turtles, including vulnerable Green turtles and endangered Loggerhead turtles.

“The rodeo technique isn’t normally how people would envision scientists and researchers survey these valuable creatures, but it’s critical work that’ll make a huge difference,” Minister Scanlon added.

Images: Credit Queensland Government