Welcome to Turtle Care Sunshine Coast

Since their ancient ancestors took their first evolutionary step into the oceans, sea turtles have been returning to the land to lay their eggs on beaches around the world. While this strategy has served them well for over 100 million years, today all sea turtle species are experiencing a range of human-induced impacts that are threatening their continued survival.

There are seven recognised species of sea turtle surviving today:

• Green turtle
  (Chelonia mydas)
• Loggerhead
  (Caretta caretta)
• Flatback
  (Natator depressus)
• Hawksbill
  (Eretmochelys imbricata)
• Leatherback
  (Dermochelys coriacea)
• Olive ridley
  (Lepidochelys olivacea)
• Kemp's ridley
  (Lepidochelys kempii)

All but the Kemp’s ridley turtle are found in Australian waters.

The main species nesting on Sunshine Coast beaches are the Loggerhead turtle and, less frequently, the Green turtle.

Given that Australia's eastern population of nesting Loggerheads comprises only around 500 nesting females, the Sunshine Coast population continues to be a small but important sub-population. Turtle Care Sunshine Coast is a voluntary organisation formed in 2005 in response to an identified need to protect the nests of marine turtles nesting on Sunshine Coast beaches.

Turtle Care volunteers are responsible for the implementation of an ongoing turtle monitoring program for nesting activity on beaches between Golden Beach and Point Cartwright. Volunteers identify and record species, nesting locations and frequency, protect nests from fox predation and monitor hatching and emergence success of nests.