OLLIE THE COMEBACK TURTLE HEADS HOME

Ollie the seaturtle is on his way home in Cairns waters following recovery from his life-threatening adventure in temperate New South Wales waters, Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said.

“Ollie is like a new turtle – having come back from the brink of death thanks to the TLC provided by the Australian Seabird Rescue’s WildlifeLink turtle hospital at Ballina,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

She said the 60cm turtle was sick when rescued off the New South Wales north coast, having floated south from the Coral Sea region, carried by the east Australian current.

“The turtle had severe sun damage and was practically just shell and bones, because he had become ill and bloated with air which made him unable to dive or forage for food,” she said.

“But Ollie has been nursed back to health for more than a year by the ASR volunteers – caring for him until he was again able to dive and remain on the bottom of the turtle hospital’s rehabilitation pool.

“Ollie’s care required a considerable amount of time, effort and money and ASR are to be congratulated on saving Ollie who’s one of the endangered Olive Ridley seaturtles.

“Being a resident of tropical and sub-tropical waters, the turtle refused to eat when the water temperature in its pool was below 22 degrees celsius and no expense was spared.

“The volunteer organisation operated pool pumps and heaters throughout winter and it’s estimated they spent about $4000 on power bills and food to rehabilitate this turtle.”

Ollie has been kept at the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre at Portsmith in a water tank after his journey north by road and air.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service vessel Reef Heron transported the turtle to the Cairns Marine Park, about 1.5 hours north of Cairns and about 2km offshore, this morning for release.

The success of the trip depended on a co-operative effort by the ASR, whose volunteers built the crate; research scientist/marine biologist Jennie Gilbert; the NSW Department of Conservation (Parks and Wildlife); and the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency.

Media contact: Andie Gatti 3336 8002