Cairns Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Saving the Turtles We are committed to rehabilitating marine turtles to promote a greater understanding of the various marine turtle species.

The Rehabilitation Centre The Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre treats injured and/or ill marine turtles brought in from the Great Barrier Reef & Cape York.

Schools and Universities We can provide a valuable learning resource and the opportunity to get up close to these remarkable creatures.

Turtle Research The team are currently involved in a number of research activities including nesting site surveys, marine debris impacts on turtles.

Supporters of the Turtle We are supported by corporations and individuals who supply everything from time to generous donations of funds and equipment.

Support The Cause Volunteering can bring some amazing experiences and knowing that you are helping turtles just makes it that more worthwhile.

Saving Turtles in the Great Barrier Reef

The Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre (CTRC) treats injured and/or ill marine turtles brought in from the Great Barrier Reef and Cape York Peninsula.

Personal commitments and donations from local businesses keep the centre running with more than 150 ill and/or injured animals brought in for treatment over the past 9 years. Founded in 2000 by Paul Barnes and Jennie Gilbert using their own resources the centre receives no funding from Government as rehabilitation of sick and injured animals do not come under any conservation or environmental initiatives. Unfortunately, over the past 9 years the centre’s infrastructure, much of it second hand to begin with, has become old and is breaking down. This occurs on a regular basis due to the harsh conditions of salt water immersion.

The Great Barrier Reef is home to six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles. A number of these are seriously threatened by a diverse range of human induced factors. These include:- • Chemical contamination from runoff into the ocean which may play a role in the onset of gut impactions in turtles, resulting in floater’s disease. • Injuries resulting from boat strikes • Marine debris ingestion and/or entrapment • Entanglement in discarded fishing nets and equipment. • Global warming (irrespective of what the cause might be) With less than one in a thousand turtle hatchlings surviving to breeding age, the rehab centre can make a small difference by caring for and releasing adolescent and adult marine turtles to enable the species too continue to thrive for future generations of Great Barrier Reef visitors to enjoy. Information captured and utilised by the Cairns rehab team is often shared with other rehabilitation centres’ both nationally and internationally. The data spans everything from autopsy findings to blood composition and genetic sampling. In addition, members of the Rehab team are currently involved in a number of research activities including turtle nesting site surveys, marine debris impacts on turtles and feral animal control on and around turtle nesting sites.