Australia Zoo's Bindi Irwin Assists With Sea Turtle Release

By Kylie Wilkings

Beerwah, Australia - An endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle, with three flippers, will now be monitored very closely thanks to a brand new satellite tracking device. 

The satellite tracking system is a joint initiative between the Department of Environment and Resource Management, Australia Zoo Rescue Unit, Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors - Australian Wildlife Hospital and Sirtrack (a satellite tracking manufacturer).

Rafael, named after the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles character, was rescued by Moreton Bay Marine Park staff and the Tangalooma Conservation team after it was spotted floating with a crab pot float line entangled around its neck and flipper. 

Australia Zoo Rescue Unit transported Rafael to the Australian Wildlife Hospital at Australia Zoo, where Doctor Peter McKinney amputated the necrotic flipper and treated wounds around Rafael’s neck. 

Nurses at the Australian Wildlife Hospital were able to successfully rehabilitate Rafael, and so he was released yesterday by Bindi Irwin off Australia Zoo’s research vessel Croc One. 

Brian Coulter, the head of the Australia Zoo Rescue Unit said the satellite tracking system will be important in tracking Rafael’s progress in the wild post rehabilitation. 

“Rafael was the fourth Sea Turtle this year to have his flipper amputated due to fishing gear related entanglement, so we really need to track his movements to learn how successful his rehabilitation is,” Brian said.

“Rafael will be tracked via satellite by $5,000 cutting edge technology which was generously donated by Sirtrack,” he said. 

Sirtrack designs and manufactures wildlife tracking equipment and provides to researchers, conservationists and wildlife managers throughout the world. Researchers from The University of Queensland will be collating the data and plotting Rafael’s movements.

“Australia Zoo has tracked Crocodiles using this technology, but this is the first time we will be using the device to track a rehabilitated Sea Turtle. It is very important for the ongoing conservation of turtles to track the movement of this special species,” he said. 

This research project is being conducted in association with the Department of Environment, Research and Management, University of Queensland, and the Australian Wildlife Hospital. 

The Australia Zoo Rescue Unit operates out of Australia Zoo seven days a week. If you see wildlife that you believe needs assistance, please call 1300 369 652. 

Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah, QLD 4519
www.australiazoo.com.au

To see Australia Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-49-Australia_Zoo