Latest news with #Hawksbills
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Incredible pictures capture rare moment off Aussie coast: 'Extremely important'
Conservationists are celebrating the rescue of a critically endangered pregnant hawksbill turtle that had become stuck on a remote island off the Australian coast. 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." Rare sight in the sky leaves beachgoers in total awe Aussie council under pressure as iconic species ravaged Aussies warned as tourist beach braces for phenomenon "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. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Sky News
15-02-2025
- Science
- Sky News
Sea turtle Barnacle Bill treated at UK's first dedicated rehab centre
The number of sea turtles washing up on UK beaches has more than doubled in recent years, prompting the creation of the country's first dedicated rehabilitation centre in Brighton. Last year, 35 sea turtles were found stranded on British shores, compared to just 12 in 2022. Many arrive suffering from severe hypothermia, disoriented by storms and ocean currents - an issue that experts say is being driven by climate change. Of the seven species of sea turtle, three are classified as endangered, with two of those, Hawksbills and Kemp's Ridleys, being critically endangered. In response, SEA LIFE Brighton has opened the UK's first purpose-built Turtle Rehabilitation and Repatriation Centre, providing specialist care to nurse these vulnerable creatures back to health. 2:11 The project was the brainchild of SEA LIFE's curator Joe Williams. He told Sky News: "Turtles shouldn't be turning up here in the UK. Climate change is a massive driver in this. "Climate change leads to more storms, and storms can very much disorient turtles when they're out at sea. Then particularly when they're in cold waters, they lose control of their limbs." The centre opened in December, and already had its first patient: Barnacle Bill, a loggerhead turtle that was rescued off the coast of Guernsey in 2023. SEA LIFE aquarist Grace Cavanagh said: "She's named Barnacle Bill because she was found with a lot of barnacles on her. "And that means she's probably been floating about cold stunned, hypothermic for quite a while. There's been a lot of critical care for her to make sure she was okay." Barnacle Bill was treated for hypothermia in Guernsey, and the focus now is on rehabilitation, so she is ready to be returned to the wild. Read more from Sky News: William and Kate mark Valentine's Day with romantic photo What we know about asteroid that could hit Earth Unlike the other turtles at SEA LIFE Brighton, Bill is not on display. She is housed in a special tank, behind strict biosecurity measures, to limit human exposure. Bill has a regular regime of "enrichment" to try and stimulate her natural behaviours such as swimming, exploration and feeding. The tank has a wave machine to mimic the sea, and Bill's meals are sometimes hidden beneath rocks to encourage her natural foraging instincts. Get Sky News on WhatsApp Follow our channel and never miss an update. Tap here to follow Once she's ready, Barnacle Bill will be transported back to the wild aboard a Royal Navy warship. Although there's no definite schedule, the team at SEA LIFE say it could be any day now. But with turtle strandings rising every year, the Brighton centre may not stay empty for long. Main image: GSPCA Guernsey
Sky News
15-02-2025
- Science
- Sky News
Sea turtle Barnacle Bill treated by UK's first dedicated rehab centre
The number of sea turtles washing up on UK beaches has more than doubled in recent years, prompting the creation of the country's first dedicated rehabilitation centre in Brighton. Last year, 35 sea turtles were found stranded on British shores, compared to just 12 in 2022. Many arrive suffering from severe hypothermia, disoriented by storms and ocean currents - an issue that experts say is being driven by climate change. Of the seven species of sea turtle, three are classified as endangered, with two of those, Hawksbills and Kemp's Ridleys, being critically endangered. In response, SEA LIFE Brighton has opened the UK's first purpose-built Turtle Rehabilitation and Repatriation Centre, providing specialist care to nurse these vulnerable creatures back to health. 2:11 The project was the brainchild of SEA LIFE's curator Joe Williams. He told Sky News: "Turtles shouldn't be turning up here in the UK. Climate change is a massive driver in this. "Climate change leads to more storms, and storms can very much disorient turtles when they're out at sea. Then particularly when they're in cold waters, they lose control of their limbs." The centre opened in December, and already had its first patient: Barnacle Bill, a loggerhead turtle that was rescued off the coast of Guernsey in 2023. SEA LIFE aquarist Grace Cavanagh said: "She's named Barnacle Bill because she was found with a lot of barnacles on her. "And that means she's probably been floating about cold stunned, hypothermic for quite a while. There's been a lot of critical care for her to make sure she was okay." Barnacle Bill was treated for hypothermia in Guernsey, and the focus now is on rehabilitation, so she is ready to be returned to the wild. Read more from Sky News: William and Kate mark Valentine's Day with romantic photo What we know about asteroid that could hit Earth Unlike the other turtles at SEA LIFE Brighton, Bill is not on display. She is housed in a special tank, behind strict biosecurity measures, to limit human exposure. Bill has a regular regime of "enrichment" to try and stimulate her natural behaviours such as swimming, exploration and feeding. The tank has a wave machine to mimic the sea, and Bill's meals are sometimes hidden beneath rocks to encourage her natural foraging instincts. Get Sky News on WhatsApp Follow our channel and never miss an update. Tap here to follow Once she's ready, Barnacle Bill will be transported back to the wild aboard a Royal Navy warship. Although there's no definite schedule, the team at SEA LIFE say it could be any day now. But with turtle strandings rising every year, the Brighton centre may not stay empty for long. Main image: GSPCA Guernsey
Sky News
15-02-2025
- Science
- Sky News
Meet Barnacle Bill - the sea turtle treated by UK's first dedicated rehabilitation centre
The number of sea turtles washing up on UK beaches has more than doubled in recent years, prompting the creation of the country's first dedicated rehabilitation centre in Brighton. Last year, 35 sea turtles were found stranded on British shores, compared to just 12 in 2022. Many arrive suffering from severe hypothermia, disoriented by storms and ocean currents - an issue that experts say is being driven by climate change. Of the seven species of sea turtle, three are classified as endangered, with two of those, Hawksbills and Kemp's Ridleys, being critically endangered. In response, SEA LIFE Brighton has opened the UK's first purpose-built Turtle Rehabilitation and Repatriation Centre, providing specialist care to nurse these vulnerable creatures back to health. 2:11 The project was the brainchild of SEA LIFE's curator Joe Williams. He told Sky News: "Turtles shouldn't be turning up here in the UK. Climate change is a massive driver in this. "Climate change leads to more storms, and storms can very much disorient turtles when they're out at sea. Then particularly when they're in cold waters, they lose control of their limbs." The centre opened in December, and already had its first patient: Barnacle Bill, a loggerhead turtle that was rescued off the coast of Guernsey in 2023. SEA LIFE aquarist Grace Cavanagh said: "She's named Barnacle Bill because she was found with a lot of barnacles on her. "And that means she's probably been floating about cold stunned, hypothermic for quite a while. There's been a lot of critical care for her to make sure she was okay." Barnacle Bill was treated for hypothermia in Guernsey, and the focus now is on rehabilitation, so she is ready to be returned to the wild. Read more from Sky News: William and Kate mark Valentine's Day with romantic photo What we know about asteroid that could hit Earth Unlike the other turtles at SEA LIFE Brighton, Bill is not on display. She is housed in a special tank, behind strict biosecurity measures, to limit human exposure. Bill has a regular regime of "enrichment" to try and stimulate her natural behaviours such as swimming, exploration and feeding. The tank has a wave machine to mimic the sea, and Bill's meals are sometimes hidden beneath rocks to encourage her natural foraging instincts. Get Sky News on WhatsApp Follow our channel and never miss an update. Tap here to follow Once she's ready, Barnacle Bill will be transported back to the wild aboard a Royal Navy warship. Although there's no definite schedule, the team at SEA LIFE say it could be any day now. But with turtle strandings rising every year, the Brighton centre may not stay empty for long. Main image: GSPCA Guernsey
