Only the best for Sprouts

A young turtle is the latest addition to a Rockingham environment centre’s turtle care program.

Naragebup Rockingham Regional Environment Centre volunteer Pauline Whitehead went to the Aquarium of WA at Hillarys on Friday to pick up the green turtle, which is estimated to be about four years old.

She brought the turtle back to Rockingham where staff hope it will have a better chance of regaining full health in a quieter environment.

Known as Sprouts, the turtle was found washed up on Cottesloe Beach about four weeks ago.

The environment centre has a good record of caring for baby turtles and has managed to care for up to 70 in a year.

‘‘During the past seven years we have saved more than 150 turtles, which have been released back up north at Shark Bay or Exmouth,’’ Ms Whitehead said.

She said once Sprouts was healthy again, Department of Environment and Conservation staff would decide when and where he would be released.

Ms Whitehead said this year the El Nino weather patterns meant many turtles had been washed out into the open ocean instead of getting washed up on beaches.