20/01/2006
- Greg Hunt MP, Parliamentary Secretary with ministerial responsibility
for Pulu-Keeling National Park today announced that $41,300
of Natural Heritage Trust Funding was currently being used
for satellite tagging of turtles on Cocos Island at Pulu Keeling
National Park - an important research project that will track
the nesting and migratory habits of the internationally endangered
Green turtle.
"Green turtles can migrate up to 2500
kilometres and turtles that nest on Cocos Island could actually
spend most of their lives as far away as mainland Australia,
Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka or the Chagos Archipelago.
"Some nesting turtles may move from their nesting
beach on North Keeling only as far as the southern atoll where
there is abundant food. If that's true, we will need to make
sure turtles on the southern atoll are protected to ensure
continued nesting on the northern atoll, Mr Hunt said.
The satellite tagging project will be conducted by Rangers
and staff from Parks Australia and international environmental
research company Biomarine Australia in a bit to discover
where nesting Green turtles spend most of their lives.
"Parks Australia Rangers will spend a week at North Keeling
Island in Pulu Keeling National Park, walking the beaches
at night and measuring all nesting turtles.
"They'll
be collecting DNA samples and then gluing satellite devices
to the shells of seven nesting females so they can be tracked
when they return to the sea.
Every time the turtle surfaces to breathe, the satellite will
detect the transmitter. As the batteries last for up to eight
months, staff will be able to plot detailed maps of where
the turtles go and how long they take to get there,"
Mr Hunt said.
Turtles nest several times a year. The satellite transmitters
will provide information on what the turtles do in between
nesting and where they go.
Mr Hunt said that Parks Australia has gathered an impressive
body of information on sea turtles over the past six years
but the satellite tagging project would further the understanding
of the habits of the species.
"We know a lot about
the movements of large, internationally significant populations
of Green and Hawksbill turtles who come here to feed. But
Cocos also has a smaller population of Green turtles who come
here to nest - and as yet nothing is known about where these
nesting turtles spend most of their lives.
This critical information is required to establish international
protocols to protect turtles - both nesting and foraging,"
Mr Hunt said.
To follow the visit www.seaturtle.org from 1 February 2006.
|
