Today’s good news story comes from ABC Far North and was sent to me by Noelle Granger. Thank you, Noelle
Thousands of baby green sea turtles head to sea after successful egg relocation
By Rosanne Maloney, ABC Far North, Topic: Conservation
The project to move eggs from one island has allowed for more males to develop. (Supplied: Queensland Parks and Wildlife)
In short:
It’s believed that 82 percent of the green sea turtle eggs relocated from the northern Great Barrier Reef and relocated between two islands have hatched.
The species has faced increasing threats nesting on Raine Island, its main rookery.
What’s next?
Researchers say future testing will be needed to determine if the successful hatchlings are also of the same fitness.
More than 9,100 northern Great Barrier Reef green sea turtle hatchlings have begun their journey to sea after a project relocating eggs between two islands achieved promising results.
It is the second time eggs have been moved from Raine Island to Sir Charles Hardy Island, about 600 kilometers north of Cairns in the north-east Coral Sea, in an attempt to boost hatchling numbers and produce more males.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service senior project officer Katherine Robertson said the latest results were encouraging.
“Of those eggs, 82 percent of them hatched, and the hatchlings made it to the water,” she said. “A fantastic outcome.”
Researchers collect eggs straight away as they are laid by female turtles. (Supplied: DETSI)
Raine Island, a tiny coral cay, is the world’s largest nesting site for 90 percent of the endangered species, and can attract up to 100,000 nesting females in a year.
However, rising sea levels, warming temperatures, and climate change have created major threats at the rookery.
The turtle eggs are being destroyed by higher sea levels, and rising tides are creating steep slopes that hatchlings struggle to climb, sometimes causing them to flip and die.
Researchers collecting green sea turtle eggs on Raine Island. (Supplied: DETSI)
Sand temperature also affects hatchling sex, with warmer sand resulting in fewer males.
“This population is almost entirely female,” Ms Robertson said. “So there’s not going to be enough males coming through to actually sustain this population into the future.”
During the first relocation trial in 2024, teams moved 3,000 eggs from 38 nests, with 70 percent of them successfully hatching.
This summer, researchers dramatically expanded the program, moving almost 9,000 eggs from more than 100 nests.
The eggs are placed in dug out nests under a shade on Sir Charles Hardy Island. (Supplied: Queensland Parks and Wildlife)
The eggs were carefully collected by researchers on Raine Island before being placed into oxygen-free, vacuum-sealed bags, temporarily pausing their development.
Teams then took the eggs about 80 kilometers by boat to Sir Charles Hardy Island, where they were reburied beneath a custom shade structure.
It lowered sand temperatures by about 1.5 degrees Celsius, helping create conditions to produce some male hatchlings.
Scientists vacuum seal eggs with nitrogen to remove oxygen and temporarily pause development. (Supplied: Queensland Parks and Wildlife)
The work is part of the Raine Island Recovery Project, which has run for more than a decade to improve the future of the green turtle population.
Protecting culture and environment
Sir Charles Hardy is in Wuthathi country, while Raine Island spans both Wuthathi and Meriam countries.
Meriam Nation elder Falen Pasi, who is the chair of Mer Gedkem Le Corporation, said the project was helping protect a species deeply connected to culture and identity that held a special significance across Torres Strait communities.
Falen Pasi says turtles are culturally significant to his people. (ABC Far North: Rosanne Maloney)
“Turtles for Indigenous people are very significant and spiritual,” he said.
“Where I come from, it’s our totem.”
Mr. Pasi said the project showed the value of combining traditional knowledge with scientific research, as traditional owners had long noticed a decline in male hatchlings. “When things happen like this, it hurts me and my people,”
Some 90 percent of the endangered species nests on Raine Island. (Supplied: Queensland Parks and Wildlife)
Wuthathi Tribal Elder chair Johnson Chippendale said traditional owners spent years working with scientists to find solutions. Mr. Chippendale said protecting turtles meant protecting future generations. “It’s really about saving the species,” he said.
About 2,000 adult turtles have died during one nesting season on Raine Island, many after falling. (Supplied: Queensland government)
Looking beyond hatching success
James Cook University researcher Caitlin Smith said the success rate of the hatchings was in line with other healthy nesting beaches. “Hatching success from those relocated clutches is phenomenal,” she said.
Caitlin Smith has been working on a similar egg relocation project for loggerhead turtles. (Supplied: Caitlin Smith)
Dr. Smith is also leading separate but similar research for loggerhead turtles at a key rookery near Bundaberg.
Her project is now examining whether successfully relocated hatchlings are as physically fit as turtles produced in nests left untouched.
Dr. Smith said research in Indonesia found that while nest relocation was crucial for protecting sea turtle eggs, it could reduce the fitness of new turtles.
Caitlin Smith, left, tests the fitness of relocated hatchlings using a course she calls the “turtle Olympics”. (Supplied: Caitlin Smith)
Her team has created what they call a “turtle Olympics”, measuring size, swimming ability, and crawling speed alongside other factors to better understand their chances of surviving long-term.
Results are not yet available, but she said producing more hatchlings was only one piece of the puzzle.
“We also need to be thinking about the quality of the hatchlings as well,” she said. “If we’re producing a lot of hatchlings, we need to know they’re the best possible hatchlings for the population.”
The good news in today’s story is that volunteers are helping these turtles overcome natural barriers to continued viability. Today’s JohnKu discusses helping nature. I hope you have a delightful weekend.
A Helping Hand by John W. Howell © 2026
Sometimes nature needs,
A helping hand to protect. . .
Her creatures from harm.
Fantastic great news, John! Thanks! That`s what we want to read. I like the layout for the fitness test. It’s good that they don’t have to do a swimming race too. Lol Best wishes, also for a nice weekend! xx Michael
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It would be interesting to see the test results. Thanks, Michael. Wishing you a lovely weekend. 😊
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Complicated and important work. I’m curious to know if those that hatch on the relocated island go back to it or the one they were originally buried on.
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Usually, turtles return to where they hatched. They have some kind of imprint that guides them back to their birthplace.
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I’ve read that, but I was curious if it changed.
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No, I think it is still the same.
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What a heart-warming story, John. It’s wonderful to see science and nature working hand in hand.
Happy Friday to you!
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I don’t think I could love this good news story any more. Saving sea turtles is hard work but very important. Wishing those little babies safe travels toward adulthood.
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When I lived on the Texas Coast, I always went to see the releases. It was so heart-warming. Thanks, Monika.
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We used to release them at our family’s timeshare in Mazatlan. They would give one to each guest and we’d let them go. Scrappy little things making their way to the ocean even gthough over 40% never made it. It’s no wonder they are endangered as a species. There are no many obstacles they face. But anything that improves the odds, I’m good with that!
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Me too.Gulls are the worst when they spot a catch of turtles heading for the water. I’m so glad some do make it.
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It’s great to read news about people intervening and making a difference. It warms your heart. Thank you, John.
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It does. Thank you, Esther,
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Thanks, John and Noelle. Turtles are amazing. Hugs
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They are, Teagan. 😊
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I loved this story! We have a very active turtle nesting protection group on the NC Coast. I saw a turtle come up to lay her eggs and within a half hour, people had come to put a barrier around the nesting site. The beaches here are host to green seas turtles, loggerheads, leatherbacks and Kemp’s Ridley turtles.
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We had the same thing on Mustang Island in the Gulf Coast.
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It’s good that people are so dedicated to helping the green sea turtles’ survival, John.
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Yes, it is, Tim. Thank you. 😊
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😊
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😊
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How fascinating.
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Thank you, Joy.
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I know about the issues with the turtles and I also know about rising sand temperatures changing the sex ratios with turtle populations. South Africa is facing problems too with the loggerhead and leatherback turtles that are also endangered. It doesn’t help that the Mozambicans are eating them.
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Eating turtles is how they came to the brink of extinction in the 1800s
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😥
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What a fascinating project! There are so many variables that have to work together to maintain the species into the future.
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You are so right, Liz.
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Ha! Noelle is my sister’s name, how cool is that?
And another great story Boss. It’s a daunting task but a worthy one when you think about the turtle’s role in the culture. Eighty-two percent is an amazing achievement too.
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Yes, it is. The fact that your sister is named Noelle is very cool. Thanks, Marc. 😊
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Indeed.
Thank you for another great story.
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😊
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Fabulous story, John. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. I like your haiku, too. 😊
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Thank you, Eilene. So glad you enjoyed it.😊
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warmer sand resulting in fewer males. That is fascinating. I hope this project / experiment continues being successful.
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I do too, since other countries have the same issue with their turtles. Thanks, Thomas.
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Yes you are right
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😊
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That is truly a good news story John. And identifying the conditions becoming imbalanced with regard to the male to female ratio was inspired… hugsx
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Yes, it was. Thank you, Sally.
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I hope it’s successful!
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I do, too.
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This is such a cool story. I’m glad you shared it with us.
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Thanks, Craig.
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I always cheer for turtles!
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Me too. Thanks, Annette.
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Love turtle success stories.
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Me, too.
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This is a heartening report John. I hope the best for the turtles, as I do with all creatures man has messed up and now trying to fix.
I like that your JohnKu refers to our helping hands. Our hands should always be helpful.
OX 🐢X OX
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I agree, Resa. 🐂 😊X
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Your JohnKu is spot on. This is wonderful, albeit not easy for the turtles and the researchers.
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😀 So glad you liked it, Jennie.
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😀
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😊
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