Turtle recall: Discovery Centre braces for turtle rescue season

The wild weather along the coast can bring more than just rain, with beachgoers being reminded to keep an eye out for baby turtles washing up on South West shores as the winter months begin.

Dolphin Discovery Centre conservation manager Jan Tierney said the centre’s tireless crew of volunteers is preparing for rescue season as winter storms push baby turtles along currents and on to South West coastlines.

The centre is the only place in the South West licensed to rescue, rehabilitate and release the endangered marine life, and it has released about 300 turtles back into the ocean since the program began.

Programs like these are vital, as only one in every 1000 turtles survives and all species are on the endangered list.

One such turtle is Hunter, a one-year-old loggerhead turtle that has been undergoing daily physiotherapy for the past month

“Hunter came in at the end of last winter, and the other turtles we all released in March, but Hunter wasn’t using that back flipper, ” Ms Tierney said.

“So we decided to hold back and get him some more use into that flipper.”

Hunter’s recovery includes a daily massage to stimulate the muscles in his back flipper and exercises on sand and in his tank.

The volunteers say Hunter is a beloved part of the program, who is high energy at all times, except massage time. “He loves it so much he falls asleep, he’ll cross his legs, it’s how we can tell the loggerheads are really relaxed,” Ms Tierney said.

Hunter is scheduled to be released with the next batch of rescues later this year in Exmouth.

Volunteers urge the public to call them or Parks and Wildlife if they find a turtle because putting it back into cold water could be fatal.

“Their metabolism shuts down because these little guys need warm water to regulate their metabolism,” Ms Tierney said.

“Marine animals get hydration from the food they eat, they don’t drink saltwater. So if they’re cold, they won’t eat.”

All turtles are tracked upon release.