Green Turtles, Northern Territory Australia

A project of Northern Territory Turtle Tracking, Australia in conjunction with the partners and sponsors detailed below.

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Introduction

2008 marks the second year of this research project at Smith Point beach in Cobourg Peninsula(Garig Gunak Barlu National Park), in the far north of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. Since an initial survey more than ten years ago, no previous ongoing study has been conducted on this 3.5km long beach. The researchers aim to quantify the number of nesting green turtles each season while evaluating through satellite migration and DNA sampling whether this turtle stock is separate to the larger Australian stocks of greens from Queensland and Western Australia. Each year joining the researchers is a team of volunteers who assist on the nightly patrols. Some of the threats turtles face in this region are entanglement in marine debris, large saltwater crocodiles and the occasional indigenous take.

Project Partners

The annual study is conducted by the Department of Natural Resources, Environment & the Arts – Marine Biodiversity Group and Conservation Volunteers Australia.

The local traditional owners and the Board of the Marine Park also support the project.

Project Sponsors

This project was partly funded by Envirofund from the Australian Government.

• The presentation of data here does not constitute publication. All data remain copyright of the project partners. Maps or data on this website may not be used or referenced without explicit written consent.
• If you have questions or would like to request the use of maps or data for this project please contact scott.whiting@nt.gov.au.

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