The Ningaloo Turtle Program is dedicated to better understanding and conserving sea turtles along the Ningaloo Coast.
The Ningaloo Turtle Program was developed in 2002 as a collaboration between the local Cape Conservation Group (CCG), the predecessors of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), Murdoch University and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Now implemented by the Exmouth District of DBCA, the turtle track monitoring program aims to monitor long-term trends in marine turtle populations along the Ningaloo Coast.
NTP Overarching Goals
- Contribute to the understanding of turtle nesting and threats along the Ningaloo Coast to support informed evidence-based conservation and management
- Continue to develop a rigorous, peer-reviewed and reliable scientific monitoring programme supported by trained volunteers
- Maintain the only long-term monitoring of green turtles for the Western Australian green turtle genetic stock
- Provide key information to inform the Australian Marine Turtle Recovery Plan
- Build a culture of awareness and stewardship for marine turtle conservation.
NTP Primary Objectives
- Work with traditional owners to enhance the promotion of cultural connections to turtles and share knowledge to build a broader understanding of turtle conservation
- Estimate the abundance, distribution and species of turtle nests on key sections of beach over specified time intervals
- Identify the relative significance of specific nesting beaches for each species
- Identify temporal changes in nesting season and spatial changes in nesting distribution for each species
- Identify long-term trends in nesting and populations
- Quantify predation and disturbance as part of NTP monitoring and through supporting external research
- Record observations of tagged turtles, strandings, and mortalities
- Rescue stranded turtles when appropriate
- Support external research relevant to the goals of the program
- Encourage active community and wider involvement through education and the recruitment of volunteers in order to build interest, skills and knowledge to assist with turtle conservation.
Volunteers are essential to the program. Based in Exmouth, Western Australia, the NTP provides opportunities for the local community, interstate and international volunteers to take part in turtle conservation. Participating volunteers gain training and practical experience in track monitoring, turtle rescues and other related activities.
