Joint media release from The Hon. Greg Hunt MP, Federal Minister for the Environment and The Hon. Dr Steven Miles MP, Queensland Minister for Environment
19 September 2015
Queensland’s turtle population are being given a helping hand against predators with four organisations sharing $2.1 million under round two of the Nest to Ocean program.
The funding is part of a $7 million joint Australian and Queensland Government investment over four years to reduce the threat to turtle nests from feral pigs, foxes and other predators.
Federal Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, said taking action to protect Cape York’s turtle population was an important issue not just for Queenslanders but all Australians.
“When you see the devastation caused by feral predators to turtle nests, eggs and baby hatchlings you know action is required,” Minister Hunt said.
“Other Australian Government funded turtle programmes in Cape York have seen tremendous results with predation of turtle nests by pigs reduced from a 97 per cent nest mortality rate to a 12 per cent nest mortality rate.
“So we know that funding local organisations to come up with local solutions will deliver real results for Cape York’s turtle population.”
Queensland Minister for National Parks Dr Steven Miles said three projects are focusing on feral pig control in Cape York.
“A combined $1.2 million will help Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council and Cape York Natural
Resource Management control feral pigs in priority turtle nesting sites on western Cape York,” Dr Miles said.
“Control activities include ground and aerial shooting, baiting, trapping and nest protection. Cape York Natural Resource Management will also begin a monitoring trial using a drone.
“The drone will be used to monitor turtle nesting and feral animals, which is a cost-effective and innovative solution to help protect turtle populations on Cape York.
“A further $270,000 will support Kalan Enterprises Aboriginal Corporation to control feral pigs along the eastern Cape York coastline to bring turtle hatchlings back to the long beaches on the eastern side.”
Dr Miles said the foxes are one of the most significant threats to loggerhead, green, and flatback turtles in nesting along the Central Queensland coastline.
“We have provided $659,000 to the Burnett Mary Regional Group for Natural Resource Management to target foxes along the coast between Bundaberg and Agnes Water,” Dr Miles said.
“The project includes baiting, fox den location using detector dogs, public education and awareness.”
Dr Miles said the round two projects are building on the nine projects already started in round one.
“We have already seen some good results for turtle survival and biodiversity,” Dr Miles said.