Behind the scenes: annual TurtleCare training day 2024

Take a look behind the scenes at the annual TurtleCare training day. 

Sunshine Coast Council hosted the major southern Queensland turtle training event for the year

Citizen scientists and turtle conservation workers came together to update their skills, learn, connect and share knowledge with a common goal to protect this endangered majestic sea creature.

The annual TurtleCare training day is an opportunity for volunteer citizen scientists to come together and refresh their skills in time for turtle season.

Meet the turtle and find out what role it plays at the training day.

This is part 3 of a BTS look at the annual TurtleCare training day - setting up a scenario to practice identifying turtle tracks. 

At the annual TurtleCare training day, the volunteer citizen scientists practice identifying turtle nests. 

The day was attended by:

• TurtleCare Sunshine Coast
• Bribie Island Turtle Trackers
• Coolum and North Shore Coast Care
• North Stradbroke Island Turtle Conservation
• Moreton Bay Marine Park Staff
• TurtleWatch Gold Coast
• Team Turtle CQ
• Agnes Conservation Community.

How you can help

Report turtle tracks, new nests and emerging hatchlings to our Turtle Care hotline or Coolum and North Shore Coast Care.

For sightings on the southern end of the coast call 0437 559 067 and for sightings from Maroochydore north call Coolum and North Shore Coast Care on 0478 435 377.

Switch off your outside lights from 8pm as light pollution is disorientating for turtles and hatchlings

Make sure you take your rubbish with you from the beach so the turtles have a clean environment to lay their eggs in.

Our TurtleCare volunteers are highly trained citizen scientists who are making an incredible contribution to the ongoing survival of critically endangered turtles by monitoring nesting mothers, relocating nests if necessary for hatchling survival, and providing essential data to support this protection of these majestic animal.

All TurtleCare activities are conducted under Queensland Turtle Conservation Project permits.