A SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium turtle release this week comes at the height of hatching season, when the majority of Queensland’s baby turtles make their way from their nests to the ocean.
The aquarium team on Tuesday released two rehabilitated green sea turtles at Mooloolaba Beach.
They said the release of Eleanor and Kiki served as a timely reminder for locals and visitors to the Sunshine Coast to be mindful of turtle hatchlings, by refraining to interfere with their journey to the ocean and cleaning up any rubbish on the beach.
Eleanor washed up on Warana Beach in November and arrived at the Aquarium’s Turtle Rehabilitation Centre covered in barnacles and in a critical condition.
Eleanor’s health deteriorated further on arrival, but the team worked tirelessly to nurse her back to health and she’s now returned to the ocean.
Kiki washed up on the beach at Noosa National Park in December, suffering from a carapace injury, floating and emaciated.
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The turtle has fully recovered and has thoroughly enjoyed munching on mullet fillets at the Aquarium. She joined Eleanor in making her way back into the sea.
There was also an opportunity on Tuesday for people to meet Iluka the hybrid turtle in the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, ahead of the turtle’s release at Mon Repos Conservation Park later this week.
Iluka is a unique creature that has the carapace colour and head of a loggerhead turtle, but the underside of a flatback turtle.
During the past year, SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast has been working with the Department of Environment and Science to better understand how hybrid turtles develop over time in order to assist with the identification of these turtles in the wild.
Iluka arrived at the Aquarium as a hatchling and has gained more than 3kg in a year.
The Turtle Rehabilitation Centre is behind the scenes at the Aquarium due to the high level of care the team need to provide each individual turtle and the Queensland Government directive not to publicly display injured turtles at this time.
SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast runs a Behind The Scenes Tour, which gives guests the unique opportunity to visit the upgraded Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, meet the rescued sea turtles and learn how the team aid in their recovery.
For further information, visit:Â http://www.visitsealife.com/sunshine-coast/tickets-passes/experiences/behind-the-scenes-tour/
