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Bundaberg supports endangered turtle research
A state-of-the-art satellite tracker has been attached to a female endangered loggerhead turtle nicknamed Ginger at Mon Repos, near Bundaberg, to determine how coastal lights effect turtle nesting and migration patterns.
Acting Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Andrew Fraser said the satellite monitoring of Ginger, funded by a donation from Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, builds upon the successful “Cut the Glow” campaign – aiming to reduce the glow from lights affecting nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings on beaches in the greater Bundaberg area.
“The satellite tracker affixed to Ginger’s shell, will help our scientists and rangers map habitat use off shore of the Woorarra Coastline and better understand the effects of surrounding artificial lights on migration patterns of loggerhead turtles nesting at the Mon Repos rookery,” Mr Fraser said.
“Thank you to the Fleming family, owners of Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, for helping us keep these ancient mariners visiting the Bundaberg coastline,” Mr Fraser said.
Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Chief Executive Officer John McLean said the idea to sponsor a turtle tracker came easily after hearing about the Department of Environment and Resource Management’s Cut the Glow to Help Turtles Go campaign. “We appreciate how important these turtles are to the people living in and visiting Bundaberg and to the local economy and we felt this was a great way to get involved to help. We were also so delighted to be able to name Ginger, in honour of our locally-made Bundaberg Ginger Beer. Our Bundaberg Ginger Beer is Australia’s number one Ginger Beer. We reckon that Ginger is well on her way to becoming an Aussie favourite too,” Mr McLean said.
“We look forward to following Ginger’s movements through the DERM website over the coming months and are pleased to be part of securing the future of Bundaberg’s most loved attraction.”
To follow Ginger and for more information on the Cut the Glow campaign go to www.derm.qld.gov.au.
Elaine Robertson, Pia McLean, Dr Col Limpus, Rae-Lee Fleming and Bronte McLean farewell Ginger.
