Australian_Geographic_-_August_2015_AU_.

116 July - August 2015

MAI

N AND BELOW: DAVID FLEETHAM/ OCEANWIDEIMAGES; INSET: JUSTIN GILLIGAN

Record donations will go a long way towards securing

the future for sea turtles in Australia.

Sea turtle fundraiser

most successful to date

CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN

R

AISING $79,000 between

November and December 2014,

our sea turtle appeal has been

our biggest campaign yet. The AG

Society runs six fundraisers each year,

through the Australian Geographic

stores, and our website and journal.

The Sea Turtle Foundation – a

Queensland-based conservation group,

which protects sea turtle populations, as

well as their migration routes and

habitats – has been the much-deserving

recipient of the donations.

“This year, the Sea Turtle Founda-

tion is concentrating on coordinating

marine animal stranding responses,”

says project manager Julie Traweek.

“We will be building partnerships

by hosting sea turtle health and

rehabilitation workshops, and assist-

ing with research to learn more about

migration patterns and turtle health.”

Seven species of sea turtle inhabit

the oceans, although human impacts

have depleted populations to the

point where fi ve are listed as endan-

gered or critically endangered. The

Sea Turtle Foundation will use the

donations from Australian

Geographic supporters to

learn more about the

turtles of Heron Island

via satellite tracking. This

will help researchers

discover where the turtles

travel after breeding in

waters around the island.

Funds will also go to Sea

Turtle Foundation research

partners from James Cook

University working on

Raine Island. This island is

Australia’s largest green sea turtle

rookery, but has seen a decline in

nesting success in recent years.

Researchers plan to look into the

possible microbial causes of egg failure

to determine the best way to help these

long-lived sea creatures.

PHOEBE BALDWIN

Thank you! Green turtles

such as this will benefi t

from your generosity.

Ancient seafarer. A green

sea turtle with schooling

fi sh off the island of Bali.

At risk. The green sea turtle is

one of six marine turtle species

found in Australian waters.

116 Australian Geographic