Naragebup turtles are released

Two turtles who have called the safe waters of Naragebup Rockingham Regional Environment Centre home for the past 10 months have been released back into the warmer waters in the State’s north.

Goldie, a green turtle, and Franklin, a loggerhead turtle, were released back into the wild at Shark Bay last week by Department of Environment and Conservation officers.

Naragebup chairwoman Pauline Whitehead said Goldie, who was found on a beach at Golden Bay last November, was not given much hope of survival.

‘‘She arrived very sick and had an infection,’’ she said.

‘‘We were injecting her for a few weeks with antibiotics and she also had a flipper over her head for a few weeks.’’

Franklin arrived at Naragebup after starting his rehabilitation at Bunbury Dolphin Centre.

‘‘They rescued him but once they get a little bit bigger they can’t cope with them,’’ Ms Whitehead said.

Naragebup is the only marine turtle rescue service in the region and Ms Whitehead said if anyone finds a marine turtle in the water or on the beach to bring them to the centre.

‘‘Don’t put it back in the water, whatever you do,’’ she said.

‘‘What happens is they get swept down in the winter storms.

‘‘Once they get past Geraldton the water is too cold and the system closes down and they stop eating.

‘‘So if you put them back in the water all that will happen is that they end up down in the Antarctic.’’

Ms Whitehead said she hoped Goldie and Franklin would stay in the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean and explore other warmer waters around the world.