Introduction

Project Orion III - Rovering with Turtles is the 5th Scouts of the World Award (SWA) Voluntary Service Project of the SWA Singapore Base.

The 3rd instalment of this project will be led by 9 Singapore Rovers. They will return to Setiu, a main district in Terengganu, Malaysia where previous instalments of Project Orion were featured.

The primary aim of this project would be the conservation of sea turtles. In addition, the team of 9 will also be involved in Mangrove Replanting, Repair Work for the Village and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature - Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) who has an Information Centre at Seitu, as well as educating the youths about Conversation efforts and the English Language from the 16th to 30th June 2011. The team will also take charge of the construction and installations of signboards at hatchery and mangrove reforestation sites.

Wednesday 30 November 2011

Rehabilitated turtles swim free

Rehabilitated turtles swim free

Just after 9am on Tuesday 29 November, two boats filled with Earthwatch volunteers from Amcor and scientist Dr Kathy Townsend headed out to deep water off North Stradbroke Island to release four healthy, rehabilitated turtles back into the open ocean.The loggerhead and three green turtles were all found back in August 2011 and were experiencing a range of issues, causing them to lose weight and be in very poor condition. Some of the turtles were found floating and were unable to dive for food which is often associated with marine rubbish inside the turtles gut, which is the current focus of the Turtles in Trouble research project. The biggest turtle – the Loggerhead known as Blossom – was rescued by the School of Biological Sciences undergraduate students on a field trip back in 2005. The turtle was found floating just in front of the research station during the field course and was carried back to the station for care by four students.

Summary of the turtles released:

Loggerhead turtle called “Blossom”
Condition on arrival: was very weak and dehydrated (eyes sunken), covered in algae & sea squirts. Missing front right flipper and the back of the shell (carapace) missing.
Bodyweight on arrival: 32.25kg
Currently: 56.15kg


Green turtle

Condition on arrival: Floating turtle with large barnacles, burrowing barnacles and leeches.
Body weight:15.4kg
Currently:19.6kg

Green turtle called “Thorpe”
Condition on arrival: Floating, lesions on carapace and a few surface parasites.
Body weight: 7.45kg
Currently: 9.75kg

Green tutle called “Splash”
Condition on arrival: Floating – possible impaction due to ingested marine debris
Body weight: 16.05kg
Currently: 18.9 kg


About the project: Since 2006, Earthwatch has been working with the University of Queensland's Moreton Bay Research Station and Dr Kathy Townsend on sick, injured and dead sea turtles. Underwater World Mooloolabah has also been supporting thte project by undertaking long term care of injured turtles, after initially being treated on North Stradbroke Island. The project relies heavily on the help and support of the traditional owners of North Stradbroke Island (Minjerrinbah) and Earthwatch volunteers.


Credits to EARTHWATCH Institute Australia:

Sign off: Project Orion III
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