Arcadia Australia

Happy World Turtle Day!

There are very few large nesting populations of green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles left in the world, however, Australia has some of the largest marine turtle nesting areas in the Indo-Pacific region and is the only place where the flatback turtle has nesting populations.   

There are seven species of marine turtles in the world and six occur in Australian waters:

Flatback turtle (Natator depressus)
Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)

Australia is also home to over 23 species of freshwater turtles.  The fellow featured above lives happily in the science building of James Cook University in Far North Queensland.

The other pictures were taken on excursion during our excursions to Cook Island off the coast of Northern New South Wales and also during custom programs on the Great Barrier Reef.  Every year in February - March the green turtles come back to nest on the sands just outside Bundaberg at Mon-Repos and tourists can experience helping the turtles hatch and find their way to the ocean.

Here's hoping your day is Turtley Awesome Dude!

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