Incredible pictures capture rare moment off Aussie coast: 'Extremely important'
Speaking to Yahoo News, a spokesperson from Queensland's Department of the Environment, Science, Tourism and Innovation (DETSI) said rangers were visiting Womer Cay — a small, sparsely vegetated cay about 65 kilometres east of Bamaga — when the incredible rescue took place.
The mission occurred while crews were visiting some of the state's most northern parks earlier this year, during a trip from Lockhart River to Horn Island. During surveys for crested terns and lesser crested terns, a type of seabird, a female hawksbill turtle was discovered wedged beneath a large piece of driftwood.
Ranger Katie Bampton speculated that the turtle had likely been attempting to reach the beach to lay a clutch of eggs when she became seriously stuck.
"Thankfully she was spotted and ranger Joman Tomasello carefully removed her from the log and carried her to the ocean," Katie said. "We assumed she had been stuck since the previous evening when she came ashore to lay, and we found her around 11am."
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"She would've been stuck for hours and due to the very hot conditions, we believe she wouldn't have survived much longer."
Not only is it rare for people to see a hawksbill in the wild, the rescue is significant because the hawksbill turtle is critically endangered, meaning its population is extremely low and its survival is at risk. The rescue of a pregnant turtle is especially important, as it not only saves an individual animal but also helps ensure the continuation of the species.
Hawksbill turtles play a vital role in marine ecosystems by maintaining the health of coral reefs. Their protection is crucial for biodiversity.
Katie said after some initial hesitation, the soon-to-be mum eventually swam free. "The water would've felt so good, and we're hoping she returned to Womer Cay that evening to come ashore and lay a clutch of eggs," she said. "While we were on Womer Cay, we saw track marks on the beach where turtles had come ashore to lay, and we saw pits in the sand where clutches had hatched."
She explained the turtles are so vulnerable largely due to the impacts of climate change, accidental capture in fishing equipment and reef habitat destruction.
"The rangers who were on that trip are thrilled that we were able to rescue her and send her on her way," Katie said. These small cays in the Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park are remote but they are extremely important for bird life and turtles."
Hawksbills are small but fast swimmers, with females nesting around four times each season, laying around 140 eggs. They are highly migratory, travelling thousands of kilometres between nesting and feeding grounds.
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