AUSTRALIAN SEABIRD & TURTLE RESCUE

Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue has been rescuing and rehabilitating seabirds, shorebirds and sea turtles for over 30 years…

Headquartered in Ballina (NSW, Australia), Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue was formed in 1992.

The late Lance Ferris discovered over a third of the region’s pelicans were being injured by discarded fishing tackle. Looking further afield, he discovered pelicans in other major estuaries along the state’s coast were suffering the same fate.

Taking the large birds into his care to rehabilitate them before release back into the wild, the organisation has grown into what it is today.

WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

A volunteer organisation, Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue is licenced to rescue and rehabilitate seabirds, shorebirds, sea turtles and sea snakes right throughout New South Wales.

Operating from a five-acre pristine wetland property, the organisation’s wildlife sanctuary incorporates a hospital with intensive care facilities, turtle rehabilitation tanks, a specialist sea snake facility, bird aviaries and other care facilities.

Along with rescue and rehabilitation, the facility doubles as an education centre. Schools and community groups are invited to attend tours and information sessions, and work experience students are welcome.

Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue also runs marine emergency management training courses.

Pelican on a wooden dock with water in the background

From seabirds and shorebirds to sea turtles and sea snakes.

RISING NUMBERS

Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue has seen a huge rise in the number of injured birds and sea turtles care over recent years.

The majority of them are suffering from fishing line entanglements, hook embedding or hook and line ingestion.

Birds typically suffer from feather, nerve, bone and skin damage as a result of entanglement and embedding. If lucky enough to be rescued, there’s still a long road to recovery ahead, as the birds often present with exhaustion, dehydration and starvation. In this condition, they generally don’t cope well with the additional stress of being in captivity.

Sea turtles also suffer as a result of entanglements from discarded fishing line and lost commercial fishing nets (ghost nets). Sadly, due to the life cycle of a sea turtle, if entangled in a ghost net they usually have already drowned by the time they’re discovered stranded on a beach.

One of the most common injuries the organisation sees is fishing line wrapped around a turtle’s flipper, which can cut into the bone and may result in a loss of limb. Propellor strikes to the shell are also common.

Although some of the injuries are treatable, the ultimate goal is for everyone to play their part by being aware of our actions, the environment around us, and the creatures we share our oceans and waterways with… stay alert!

TURTLE SPONSORSHIP

The organisation’s Turtle Sponsorship Program is a uniquely-personal, informative and educational experience.

Knowing you’re helping to make possible the care, rehabilitation and release of vulnerable and endangered sea turtles back into the wild is immensely rewarding – check it out!

MARINE PLASTIC

Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue aims to not only rescue animals impacted by marine debris, but to reduce the amount of plastic entering our oceans through awareness programs and beach cleanups.

A few tips to reduce plastic in everyday life:

take your own shopping bag
reusable coffee cups
reusable water bottle
say “no” to straws
say “no” to helium balloons
reduce, reuse, recycle

OIL AND CHEMICAL SPILLS

Under a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Environment Planning and Industry, and National Parks and Wildlife, Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue operates as a supporting agency in the event of oil and chemical spills in the marine environment.