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Ningaloo Turtle Program annual report 2005-2006
| Title | Ningaloo Turtle Program annual report 2005-2006 |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Year of Publication | 2006 |
| Authors | Richards, A |
| Subsidiary Authors | Mau, R, Bedford S, Macgregor K, Silla A, Lewis B, Langdon M, Wilson E, Onton K |
| Pagination | 1-91 |
| Date Published | 06/2006 |
| Institution | Ningaloo Turtle Program |
| City | Exmouth |
| Report Number | Annual report 2005-2006 |
| Keywords | biodiversity, Ningaloo, turtles |
| Abstract | The 2005/2006 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 again expanded from previous seasons with further
increases in:
· the number of volunteers’ hours contributed;
· geographical areas monitored;
· number of days monitored; and
· number of nights of educational activities were held at the JTC.
The Ningaloo Turtle Program has continued to grow with the expansion of community turtle
monitoring to other regions in the Pilbara.
The Ningaloo Community Turtle Monitoring Program has collected data over four 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 and monitored.
· The abundance of turtle nesting activities over specified time intervals has been
determined and monitored.
· A significant loggerhead turtle rookery on the mainland of the Ningaloo coast has
been identified at Bungelup in the Cape Range National Park and monitored for
trends involving loggerhead turtles.
· 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 108 mature female turtles from stranding in the sand dunes over the
four seasons has provided an added benefit to populations of recovering marine
turtles.
The Jurabi Turtle Centre commenced operations in 2004/2005 and continued development
during the 2005/2006 nesting season. 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 that the impacts of commercial tour operators can influence operational objectives.
Further development of the management of visitor-turtle interactions is an outcome from this
season.
The capacity building and outreach component has resulted in monitoring of flatback
rookeries at Port Hedland and flatback and hawksbill rookeries at Wickham. 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 |
| Refereed Designation | Unknown |
