“Connie” — a 33 cm Hawksbill turtle — has been successfully released back to Moreton Bay after a co-operative effort between The University of Queensland’s Moreton Bay Research Station, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Australia Zoo.
Connie’s story started on a sunny weekend in October. A local Redcliffe fisherman spotted the juvenile hawksbill floating on the surface and obviously in distress. He collected her and brought her into the Coast Guard who informed Marine Parks.
Connie was then delivered to researchers at UQ`s Moreton Bay Research Station on North Stradbroke Island and placed in intensive care.
“When she first arrived, Connie was extremely weak and dehydrated," the UQ Moreton Bay Research Station’s Education Co-ordinator, Dr Kathy Townsend, said.
"It was obvious that she had been floating on the surface for sometime, unable to feed herself.
"She was covered from head to tail in a thick coating of mud and algae.”
Connie was quickly diagnosed as having “floating syndrome” in which a blockage in the gut prevents the food she consumed from being digested. The trapped food decomposed, leaking gases into the body cavity and causing the turtle to float. Floating syndrome is often caused by the turtles mistakenly eating plastic and other rubbish.
Unfortunately with turtles, if there is a blockage in the gut there is only one way in which it can escape and that is out the back end.
“After Connie was cleaned up and re-hydrated, she was given a dose of cod liver oil,” Dr Townsend said.
“Soon after that, systems started functioning normally and she visibly started sinking lower in the water.
"She soon became much more active, eating squid out of our hands and looking much brighter.”
After spending a week at UQ`s Moreton Bay Research Station, Connie was then transferred to Australia Zoo.
“Connie had lots of character and showed a real zest for life.” said Wildlife Warrior veterinarian Che Phillips.
“She soon became a favourite of everyone working at the wildlife hospital.”
After three weeks up at Australia Zoo Connie was brought back to Moreton Bay for release by the team at UQ Moreton Bay Research Station.
Prior to release she was tagged by Marine Parks ranger and North Stradbroke Island traditional owner Darren Burns.
“It’s great seeing Connie healthy and ready for release,” Mr Burns said.
“It’s hard to believe it’s the same turtle I dropped off to Moreton Bay Research Station over a month ago.”
Connie was taken out on a University of Queensland research boat to a protected part of Moreton Bay for release.
“She virtually jumped out of my arms as soon as she saw the water,” Dr Townsend said.
“We released her in a beautiful area with coral and a huge number of jellyfish. She’ll be spoiled for choice.”
“Hundreds of turtles are not as lucky as Connie, and many of them die slow painful deaths from having consumed human induced rubbish,” Dr Townsend said.
“Hopefully we won’t see Connie again and she will live a long and healthy life.”
If you want to learn more about turtles then join in on the UQ TURTLE FEST being held at UQ Moreton Bay Research Station on North Stradbroke Island on Saturday November 25. The free event in on from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Media: contact Dr Kathy Townsend on (07) 3409 9058 or kathy.townsend@uq.edu.au
Video footage and still photos available on request
