23rd May is World Turtle Day – an important day to bring attention to and raise awareness for turtles and encourage human action to help turtles survive and thrive.
Sadly, turtle populations are in a global state of decline, due to factors including boat strikes, plastic pollution, and climate change. SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium’s dedicated Animal Rescue team hope to make a difference to local turtle populations and urge the public to get in contact if they spot a sick or injured sea turtle in the wild.
This World Turtle Day, the Aquarium’s Animal Rescue team are pleased to share the story of lucky, a Green Sea Turtle hatchling that’s making a great recovery.
During a break in the rain on Sunday 21 March, the Jones family from Maroubra took a beach walk to see if any unusual shells had been washed up. To their surprise they found a struggling baby Green Sea Turtle measuring just 10cm.
Danny Jones along with his children, Archie aged nine and Jazzy aged seven, affectionately named the turtle, ‘Lucky’ in the hope they could save its life, and they certainly did.
After a quick internet search, Danny found the details for SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Centre and within an hour, the team were at his home to collect Lucky.
Saskia McDonald, Aquarist at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and member of the Animal Rescue Team has urged the public to keep an eye out for injured wildlife, especially following wild weather or storms. Saskia commented, “When Lucky came into our care, it was fighting for its life. It’s likely that the weather system off the NSW Coast in March created hazardous ocean conditions that Lucky couldn’t compete with. Exhaustion would have hit, which would have seen Lucky and other baby turtles washed ashore.
“This World Turtle Day, we are really pleased to share that Lucky is now making great progress – weighing just 51g on arrival, it’s gaining weight at a good rate – now 75.4g and is 11.5cm long. When our vets are happy with its condition and the weather is suitable, we will release it back into the ocean, close to where it was found.”
Lucky is still only ten weeks old which is too young for the team to determine the sex.
If you spot any turtles that are injured, struggling or have been washed onto a beach, please contact the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Animal Rescue Centre. https://www.visitsealife.com/sydney/conservation/animal-rescue-centre/ | Phone – 0402 783 455.
World Turtle Day story books
SEA LIFE Aquariums across Australia and New Zealand have joined forces to launch the set of four stunningly illustrated children’s books, each telling the unique tale of a local Sea Turtle, cared for by aquariums including SEA LIFE Sydney, SEA LIFE Melbourne, SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast and SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s, Auckland.
Sydney locals will be treated to ‘Plugga The Green Sea Turtle’, a true story about a beautiful turtle which resides at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and has been in human care for his whole life after being found injured and in need of a home. This story is for any children who love turtles and want to learn how they too can help these majestic creatures in the wild.
Plugga the Green Sea Turtle will be for sale with the online purchase of a SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium ticket, via the gift shop or online from May 23rd at https://shop.sydneyaquarium.com.au/
