Magnetic Island Network for Turtles volunteers re-nest 47 Flatback Turtle eggs on Nelly Bay

Animal conservationists have delicately re-nested 47 Flatback Turtle eggs after rescuing the soft shells from a shallow nest on Nelly Bay

Animal conservationists have delicately re-nested 47 flatback turtle eggs after rescuing the soft shells from a shallow nest on Nelly Bay.

The Magnetic Island Network for Turtles was forced to relocate the nest on Sunday after a flatback was seen to lay her eggs on Saturday night.

It is the first time the animal organisation has relocated a turtle nest on the island.

Co-ordinator Paul Groves said the volunteers did not take the intervention lightly.

“It is something we don’t like to normally do, we would rather let nature take its course,” he said.

Volunteer Clemence Durel removes the Flatback Turtle eggs from its original nest on Nelly Bay.

“But conditions are changing and we are seeing hotter and drier summers and we may have to take these steps to protect our turtles.”

Magnetic Island recorded a disastrous 2019 turtle breeding season with up to 50 per cent of nests estimated to have failed due to the hot and dry summer.

Magnetic Island Network for Turtles relocated 47 Flatback Turtle eggs over the weekend after the breeding female dug a shallow nest in an exposed location on Nelly Bay.

Mr Groves said after consulting the Queensland Department of Environment and Science the group were given permission to move the nest 50m up the beach.

He said the volunteers chose the new location for its success rate.

“We watched where she nested and it was a very shallow nest in an exposed location and we moved the eggs to a much shadier and more moist location,” he said.

“If the eggs are not kept in the same orientation after they are laid they will not develop so every egg has to be individually moved.”

Originally published as Magnetic Island Network for Turtles volunteers re-nest 47 Flatback Turtle eggs on Nelly Bay