One turtle at a time

Sea turtles are extraordinary. They can live up to 100 years, and Australia has six of the world's seven species. In their current form they have been around for over 120 million years, and are therefore perfectly adapted to their environment. But in Australia, that environment is changing quickly, and sea turtles are under threat. Not just by man-made impacts, including indiscriminate fishing practices, marine rubbish, boat traffic and land development, but by climate change too. Their feeding grounds on sea grass beds are also vitally affected by the increasing numbers of cyclones and big weather visiting the north of the country. But each year turtles ‘in recovery’ are the star attraction as turtle rescue volunteers, managers of turtle hospitals, university researchers and turtles in recovery meet in far north Queensland to share what they know. Producer Gretchen Miller joined turtles and volunteers alike and tried not to get bitten by the turtle love bug.