Home > Ningaloo Turtle Program annual report 2004-2005
Ningaloo Turtle Program annual report 2004-2005
| Title | Ningaloo Turtle Program annual report 2004-2005 |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Year of Publication | 2005 |
| Authors | Richards, A |
| Subsidiary Authors | Mau, R, Bedford S, Schneider M, Macgregor K, Hughes M, Carter R, Dodson M, Silva J, Burgess R |
| Pagination | 1-89 |
| Date Published | 07/2005 |
| Institution | Ningaloo Turtle Program |
| City | Exmouth |
| Report Number | Annual report 2004-2005 |
| Keywords | biodiversity, Ningaloo, turtles |
| Abstract | The 2004/2005 Ningaloo Turtle Program (NTP) which includes the Ningaloo Community
Turtle Monitoring Program (NCTMP) and the Jurabi Turtle Centre (JTC) resulted in an
outstanding success. The program has expanded from previous seasons with increases in:
· the number of volunteers and volunteers’ hours contributed;
· geographical areas monitored; and
· number of days monitored.
The Ningaloo Turtle Program has grown significantly with the inclusion of operations at the
Jurabi Turtle Centre and the expansion of community turtle monitoring to other regions in the
Pilbara,
The Ningaloo Community Turtle Monitoring Program has collected data over three
successive turtle nesting seasons and obtained results indicating trends in turtle nesting
activity on the North West Cape (Figure 1). · The abundance of turtle nesting activities on specific sections of beach and the
relative significance of specific sections to each species of turtle have been
established.
· The abundance of turtle nesting activities over specified time intervals has been
determined.
· A significant loggerhead turtle rookery on the mainland of the Ningaloo coast has
been identified at Bungelup in the Cape Range National Park.
· Targeted fox baiting programs have resulted in the reduction of fox presence and
predation along three important turtle rookeries along the Ningaloo coast.
· The rescue of 49 mature female turtles from stranding in the sand dunes over the
duration of the program has provided an added benefit to populations of recovering
marine turtles.
The Jurabi Turtle Centre commenced operations in 2004/2005. Education and interpretive
information presented at the centre during turtle nesting season has provided a focus for turtle
tourism along the Jurabi coast. It has been determined that education and interpretation alone
has limited effectiveness and further development of the management of visitor-turtle
interactions will be an outcome from this season.
The capacity building and outreach component has resulted in the identification of a flatback
turtle rookery in Port Hedland not previously recorded. It has facilitated community turtle
monitoring programs in the Pilbara and generated education and awareness towards marine
turtle conservation in Pilbara communities. |
| URL | http://www.ningalooturtles.org.au/media_reports.html |
