There were simply too many
amazing images from Gnaraloo,
so we have included several more
in slide shows:
Left: this collection of photos
gives a glimpse of the turtle con-
servation work being conducted.
Right: Gnaraloo is home to some
spectacular environments—both
marine and terrestrial.
natural assets, and is committed to
public education and scientific
research. In 2008, the predecessor
of this not-for-profit organisation
(the Gnaraloo Station Trust)
commenced the Gnaraloo Turtle
Conservation Program and the
Gnaraloo Feral Animal Control
Program – two projects that, for
obvious reasons, share a close
association. Foxes (which are
previously likely to have been
responsible for significant predation
on turtle nests in Gnaraloo)
together with feral cats and wild dogs are targeted
by the control program, which has been so success-
ful that there has been no evidence of predation on
turtle nests by feral animals since 2010.
The Gnaraloo Turtle Conservation Program cur-
rently focuses on two high-density turtle rookeries,
in which Loggerheads are the primary nesting
species. Baseline data is collected, with the goals of
identifying trends and effective management
strategies, and protecting the turtles and their
critical nesting habitat. Surveys have revealed that
the southern extremity of the Ningaloo Coast is
visited by larger aggregations of nesting turtles than
previously believed. Gnaraloo’s comprehensive
program offers scientific internships and training for
other professionals, and findings are published in
detailed scientific reports that have achieved inter-
national recognition. Informative educational
presentations are conducted for schools and other
groups, both face-to-face and (for those further
afield and overseas) through Skype in the Class-
room. School groups also have the opportunity to
join the Gnaraloo Turtle Conservation Program and
to participate in onsite turtle research and conserva-
tion.
This innovative project is starting to bear real fruit;
for nearly a decade, the total number of Loggerhead
nests recorded at Gnaraloo had shown a steady
decline, but in 2016-7 more than 400 nests were
located, up from just over 300 in 2015-6.
“We were super surprised,” said Karen Hattingh, the
chief scientist of the Gnaraloo Turtle Conservation
Program. “The nesting activities went up much more
than we expected.”