Raised with care, released with hope
After four years under human care, thirteen juvenile loggerhead turtles have been released from JCU into the open ocean, marking the next stage of a journey they were always meant to take.
Collected as hatchlings from Mon Repos in southern Queensland, the turtles were raised at JCU’s Turtle Health Research Centre as part of a research project funded through the Glencore Queensland Metals Community Assistance Program.
The long‑term study examines the overall health and development of loggerhead sea turtles by raising hatchlings to juvenile size and collecting detailed microbiome, blood, and growth data, which—together with satellite‑tracking information—provides a comprehensive picture of their condition as they transition into the wild.
Each turtle was fitted with a tracker before release, enabling scientists to monitor its movements after entering the waters off Bowen.
Growing up on campus
Central to the project is JCU’s Caraplace facility, established in 2016 to support detailed research into sea turtle health under controlled conditions. Purpose-built spaces allow close observation of turtles in ways not possible in the wild.
The turtles are housed individually, with room to swim, feed and rest on submerged platforms. Conditions are designed to replicate a near-natural environment while allowing ongoing monitoring of health, behaviour and development.
An outdoor extension, the Outer Shell, provides a secure nursery where turtles can bask in natural sunlight. Retractable shade sails help regulate temperature and protect the turtles from predators.
By the time of their release in December, the juveniles measured approximately 50–60 centimetres and weighed around 20 kilograms. They are expected to grow to about 100 kilograms and reach reproductive age in 15 to 20 years.
Choosing the right place to return
Location was everything when it came time for the big release.
“Bowen was perfect because it’s a place where the species live and it’s somewhere we can get access to our boats in the water,” Professor Mark Hamann, Director of JCU's Turtle Research Group, says. “It’s also a place where the Gudjuda Aboriginal Corporation and their rangers have a great turtle monitoring program.
“So if the turtles do stay around, then there is a chance they would be monitored by the rangers.”
Practical considerations also played a role for the 12-member JCU team, who were joined by four Gudjuda rangers.
“The third thing is it’s a short drive from Townsville. You know, two hours and we’re there,” Professor Hamann says. “That makes it easy to transport the turtles safely and get them where they need to go.”
A journey still unfolding
While the release represents a major milestone, the challenges facing the turtles are ongoing. Predation and environmental threats remain significant, with only an estimated one in 1,000 hatchlings reaching maturity. Loggerhead turtles typically reach sexual maturity at around 29 years and can live for 70 to 90 years.
JCU Academic Coordinator Jessica Grimm has been a key driver of the project since day one, having collected health and growth data, along with funding, permits and the loggerheads from Mon Repos.
“This release marks the culmination of a landmark study on loggerhead turtle health … it’s an exciting milestone,” Ms Grimm said. “We're really interested to see what they're going to do, where they're going to go.
“There's very few studies of that and it’s still a bit of a mystery.”
Learning beyond the lecture theatre
Along with having a significant impact on the health of local loggerhead populations, the experience has also shaped countless human lives.
JCU has been rehabilitating turtles on campus since 2009, and the work has become a meaningful part of students' and volunteers' hands-on learning.
“About 90 per cent of volunteers get involved because they find out about what we do and want to be part of it,” Professor Hamann says.
Many science students volunteer as part of their formal placements, while veterinary science students rotate through the centre as part of their advanced learning.
Why it matters
The research performed at the centre is not only popular among students and volunteers, but also a point of fascination with the wider community.
“I think it’s because they (turtles) are not something you see every day,” Professor Hamann says. “People are generally fascinated with all components of nature, especially the things they perceive to be rare or hard to find.”
Loggerhead turtles are currently listed as endangered in Australia under both Commonwealth (EPBC Act) and Queensland (Nature Conservation Act 1992) legislation.
Overfishing along with predation of nesting sites by species such as foxes and dogs contributed to a severe decline in numbers of loggerhead turtles, in waters off northern and eastern Australia, from the 1970s.
Internationally, they are officially listed as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.
“They’re under considerable pressure,” Prof Hamann says. “Outside of Australia, international fishing is certainly one, and plastic pollution is another.”
Looking ahead
For now, there are no fixed plans for the next turtle intake at JCU, but the Research Centre is ready.
“It’s pretty much set up,” Professor Hamann says. “It’s relatively straightforward for us to get more turtles in when the opportunity comes along.”
The thirteen young loggerheads are now where they belong, beginning a journey that will take years to unfold — carrying with them the care, science and quiet dedication that helped them enter the open ocean.
Visit the Turtle Health Research Centre‘s social media pages to learn more about its activities.