A GREEN turtle rescued near Macleay Island after one of her front flippers was torn off will undergo rehab to swim properly.
Beau, as she is known, was found last month entangled in rope attached to a crab pot, which she is believed to have dragged for days.
Redland Bay Coast Guard spokesperson Lynn Neven said the sight of Beau struggling prompted a concerned boatie to call for help, with four men needed to pull the 80-kilogram green turtle from the water.
“After 45 minutes, the crew had manhandled the turtle onto the deck of the boat,” Ms Neven said.
“After removing the rope, it was found that a crab pot was still attached.”
Beau’s flesh had been torn from her front, left flipper, leaving the bone exposed.
The green turtle was taken to Sea World at the Gold Coast by Queensland Parks and Wildlife and has since had the stump removed.
A Sea World spokesman said Beau would be rehabilitated before being released back into the wild.
“Beau arrived to Sea World in a poor condition and due to the severity of the injury on the flipper we had to surgically remove it last Monday,” he said.
“Beau is currently in our rehabilitation centre to recover.”
While turtles use their front two flippers for propulsion and their back two for steering, the spokesman said Beau would adapt.
He said Sea World looked after 40 to 70 injured turtles every year and were experienced in marine animal care.
“We have released several turtles back into the ocean with three flippers and we are aiming to do the same with Beau,” he said.
“Before release, Beau will need to spend several months in the rehabilitation centre at Sea World to allow the injury to fully heal while also learning to swim with three flippers.”
Take care, say conservationists
While Beau is recovering well, the incident has sparked calls from conservationists for more care to be taken by recreational fishers and boaties.
Five of the world’s seven turtle species are in Moreton Bay and two of them, the green and hawksbill turtles, are under threat – the green turtle is endangered and the hawskbill critically so, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Wildlife Queensland Bayside branch secretary Simon Baltais laid the blame on human impact and climate change.
“We are very lucky as five of the seven turtle species found in the world today, the green, loggerhead, pacific ridley, flatback and hawksbill turtles live in Moreton Bay,” he said.
“In Moreton Bay, it is the human impacts from discarded crab pots, litter, particularly plastics, and boat strikes that are causing significant harm to turtles.”
“With just a little more care taken with our fishing gear and litter, and respecting go slow zones, we can reduce those avoidable human impacts that can inflict grievous injury and suffering upon our turtles and other marine animals.”
Concern about turtle breeding has been sparked from temperatures rises, which have been linked to a higher ratio of female to male turtles.
Marine Conservation Society’s Adele Pedder said green turtle eggs incubated in sands warmer than 32 degrees produced only females.
“Their sex is temperature dependent,” she said. “We are seeing more and more of female sex turtles.”
Crab pot advice
A Queensland Department of Environment and Science spokesperson said people should check their crab pots regularly to release trapped animals and ensure pots were not exposed at low-tide.
“Marine animals that become trapped can drown or die in the sun at low tide,” the spokesperson said.
“Land-based animals, including birds, can also entre the pot at low tide and become trapped and drown on an incoming tide.
When purchasing a crab pot, consider:
- Pot opening size – your pot should have a maximum opening of approximately 60 centimetre circumference or smaller.
- Pot weight – your pot should weigh about three kilograms or more to make sure it sits firmly on the sea floor, creek or river bed.
- Rope – your pot should be secured by a six milimetre rope, which is either not buoyant or is weighted so it hangs below the surface of the water.
- Construction – if your pot is constructed of trawl mesh, or a similar material, then it should be of reasonable quality so that it will not easily entangle marine species such as turtles.
- Maintenance – you should maintain your crabbing gear.
Marine life rescue
All marine mammal strandings, including turtles, can be reported to 1300 ANIMAL on 1300 264 625.
Information required includes:
- the location of the stranding
- a description of what is wrong with the animals
- a description of the animal
- the caller’s contact details
