Gnaraloo Turtle Conservation Program

The Gnaraloo Turtle Conservation Program (GTCP) is an environmental organisation based at the Gnaraloo pastoral station and run by the Gnaraloo Wilderness Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation. The aim of the GTCP is to identify, monitor and protect the nesting beaches of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) found at two locations on the Gnaraloo coastline.[1][2] These two rookeries contribute to the South-East Indian Ocean subpopulation of loggerhead turtles, with other major nesting sites for this sub-population at Dirk Hartog island (within Shark Bay) and Exmouth.[3] This is within the southern boundaries of the Ningaloo Coast marine area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[4]

Gnaraloo Turtle Conservation Program (GTCP)
Founded2005
TypeNon-governmental organization
FocusConservation and research
Location
Websitegnaraloo.org and GTCP Facebook page
A loggerhead sea turtle returning to sea after nesting in the Gnaraloo Bay Rookery
Gnaraloo Bay
Sampled nest monitored by GTCP field team throughout incubation

History
Main article: Gnaraloo

The Western Australian coast is the site of a significant number of rookeries of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), and hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), all of which are classified vulnerable to critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The nesting sites are particularly numerous for loggerhead sea turtles, whose rookeries range from Shark Bay to Gnaraloo Bay in the south, and Ningaloo Reef to the Cape Range National Park in the north.[3][5][6]

In 2005, after purchasing the land at Gnaraloo, the Gnaraloo Station Trust became aware of the threatened population of sea turtles nesting along the coast and recognized the need for their protection and conservation. An on-ground monitoring and scientific research program was established with the help of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) (now DPaW), following a similar protocol to the neighbouring Ningaloo Turtle Program in Exmouth. Full season surveys of sea turtle tracks and nests within the Gnaraloo Bay Rookery (1 November - 28 February) have taken place since 2008.[2]

Yearly, a successful and in depth community engagement program has been undertaken, visiting schools along the Western Australian coast from Carnarvon to Busselton.[3]

In late 2015, the Gnaraloo Wilderness Foundation was created in order to facilitate the environmental conservation efforts of Gnaraloo; it received its not-for-profit incorporated association status in Western Australia on 12 January 2016.[7]

Gnaraloo Feral Animal Control Program
Main article: Gnaraloo Feral Animal Control Program

The Gnaraloo Turtle Conservation Program operates in conjunction with the Gnaraloo Feral Animal Control Program, which was implemented in 2009 with the aim of reducing the impact of feral animals, namely the introduced European red fox (Vulpes vulpes), as well as feral cats and wild dogs. Since the 2010/2011 season, feral predation has been successfully maintained at 0%, providing complete protection of sea turtle eggs and hatchlings from these feral predators.[1][8]

Ghost crab predation

The endemic golden ghost crabs (Ocypode convexa) and, to a lesser extent, horned ghost crabs (Ocypode ceratopthalmus) are also significant as some of the main predators of sea turtle eggs and hatchlings in Western Australia.[6][9][10][11] Some methods for protecting the nests against ghost crabs have been proposed for trial in Gnaraloo, including wire or plastic screens placed over the nests.[10]

See also

References
  1. Hattingh, K., Hajnoczky, N. and Slade, B. (2014). GTCP Summary Findings 2013/14 (PDF). GTCP.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Gnaraloo.com. "Scientific overview". Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  3. Therese A. Conant; Peter H. Dutton; Tomoharu Eguchi; Sheryan P. Epperly; Christina C. Fahy; Matthew H. Godfrey; Sandra L. MacPherson; Earl E. Possardt; Barbara A. Schroeder; Jeffrey A. Seminoff; Melissa L. Snover; Carrie M. Upite; Blair E. Witherington (2009). Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) 2009 Status Review Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Loggerhead Biological Review Team.
  4. DPaW. "Ningaloo Coast Marine Parks". Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  5. Karen Hattingh; Patrick Becker; Grant Peterson (2009). Gnaraloo Turtle Conservation Program – Final Report 08/09 : Beach Monitoring: Nesting Season 2008/2009 (PDF). Gnaraloo Marine Turtle Research Program, Gnaraloo Station Trust.
  6. Sabrina Trocini (2013). Health assessment and hatching success of two Western Australian loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) populations (PDF) (PhD). Murdoch University.
  7. Gnaraloo Wilderness Foundation Inc. (3 February 2016). "We are evolving". Facebook. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  8. Mike Butcher (30 June 2011). Gnaraloo Fox Control Program (PDF). Annual Report on Fox Control at Gnaraloo Station. Animal Pest Management Services. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  9. Karen Hattingh; Matt Boureau; Marie Duffy; Mark Wall (2011). Gnaraloo Turtle Conservation Program – Final Report 10/11: Day monitoring program with Night checks and Crab burrow surveys (PDF). Gnaraloo Marine Turtle Research Program, Gnaraloo Station Trust. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  10. Karen Hattingh; Purusha Boelling; Sergio Jacomy; Amy James; Jessica Leonard; John Stuart; Michael Williamson (2010). Gnaraloo Day and Night Monitoring Final Report 2009/2010 (PDF). Gnaraloo Marine Turtle Research Program, Gnaraloo Station Trust. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  11. Karen Hattingh (2010). "Gnaraloo Turtle Conservation Program". Ningaloo Student Research Day 2010 (PDF). Ningaloo Research Coordinating Committee. pp. 15–17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
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