Ningaloo Turtle Program

The Ningaloo Turtle Program (NTP) was formally established in 2002 and is currently an ongoing project run in collaboration between the Cape Conservation Group, DEC and WWF-Australia. The NTP is a community-based volunteer program involving both local and international volunteers. The aim of the program is to promote the long-term survival of turtle populations through the identification of key nesting beaches; monitoring of populations and assessment of trends at key index sites; identification of the level of threat of feral predators on nests; implementation of effective protection of important nesting beaches in cooperation with DEC; the generation and maintenance of community support for the program and for the conservation of marine turtles and their habitats; and the education of visitors and the community about marine turtles. The primary objectives of monitoring activities are to: 1. Determine the abundance of nests on specific sections of beach over specified time intervals for each species;2. Identify the relative significance of specific nesting beaches to each species;3. Establish the level of predation on nests; and4. Determine the impact of human interaction on nesting success of each species.The Ningaloo region was identified as a significant area for turtle nesting. Beach surveys were conducted to identify the nesting turtle species, quantify the nesting effort and success, and to verify significant turtle rookeries.