Lifeline thrown to critically endangered sea turtles

SIX endangered sea turtles, including two critically endangered Hawksbill Turtles, were released back into the ocean this week

RARE TURTLE: Merri Pedler, a Batchelor of Science student from Flinders University in Adelaide currently Volunteering at DMM. Picture: Dolphin Marine Magic

SIX endangered sea turtles, including two critically endangered Hawksbill Turtles, were released back into the ocean this week after they were rehabilitated at Dolphin Marine Magic's rescue centre.

Curator of Animal Care at the park Greg Pickering said the turtles were rescued from local beaches.

"They have to come to us for a variety of reasons, fishing line entanglement is becoming increasing frequent however the main cause for problems with turtles remains float syndrome," Greg said.

"When turtles get float they can't dive down which means they can't feed and even if the turtles don't succumb to starvation they still become susceptible to shark attack, boat strike or overheating.

"After several months of rehabilitation and care, these turtles are ready to head back to ocean and hopefully reproduce one day to increase turtle numbers in the wild.

Assisting in the release were NSW Fisheries officers and Merri Pedler, a Batchelor of Science student at Adelaide's Flinders University, who is volunteering at Dolphin Marine Magic as part of its intern program.

Dolphin Marine Magics says it spends $100,000 on conservation work and wild animal rehabilitation each year, rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing around 100 marine animals.

As the only New South Wales facility that's licenced to rehabiltate dolphins and small whales, it has rescued and released three dolphins in the past three years.