Turtles stranded on Douglas Shire beaches this summer will have a better chance of survival, after the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and the Sea Turtle Foundation donated turtle-specific rescue stretchers and a turtle stranding kit to a local volunteer group.

“We had a stranded turtle on Four Mile Beach not so long ago, and the police were called in [to help],” said Heidi Taylor, founder of marine health initiative Tangaroa Blue.

“It was so huge, two of us were trying to carry it but it was just impossible. We had to get people from the [Port Douglas] Surf Lifesaving Club to come down with their quad bike. But with something like this [rescue stretcher], you can put the turtle straight in and carry it easily.”

A few months ago, at a turtle stranding training session in Cairns run by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Ms Taylor volunteered to be the region’s main after-hours stranding contact.

“Through that, a QPWS representative asked us, ‘Have you got any [rescue] materials?’, and I asked if there was any way we could get some carry holders,” she explained.

Tangaroa Blue’s new rescue stretches are different sizes – one for turtles weighing up to about 40kg, and the other for up to 80kg. A rescued turtle would be placed stomach-down on the padded circular mat of the stretcher, and the four straps are secured with velcro around the shell. Four padded handles for rescuers make transportation easier than other methods.

“As you can imagine, turtles don’t really like to be lifted up; they’re flapping like crazy. [Carrying them any other way] starts to squash their flippers, and emaciated turtles have quite tender under-shells. But these holders are all padded, so it’s not like transporting the turtles in the back of a car where they might roll around. These are a lot more secure. 

“For both the safety of the animal, as well as the volunteers who are trying to carry them, we were really happy to receive the holders.”

The state’s 2011 floods and cyclones, plus several years of harsh wet seasons and human factors, have had a major impact on the Great Barrier Reef’s seagrass beds – sea turtles’ main food source. Ms Taylor said seagrass supplies still haven’t recovered and as a result, turtle stranding and mortality rates in North Queensland have spiked.

“About two weeks ago, we had seven turtles in 10 days between Port Douglas and Wonga Beach,” Ms Taylor said, “There was a big spike. All the turtles during that time were starving; all emaciated and in really poor condition.”

“Between Wonga Beach and Port Douglas, it’s a known hot spot - we get more stranded turtles in this area than the surrounding beaches.”

Ms Taylor said all seven turtles rescued earlier this month were reported stranded by community members, and transported to the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. But they were so emaciated by the time they arrived, none survived. 

“Jennie at the Cairns Rehabilitation Centre has seven necropsies to do now, to have a look inside and see if there’s any indication as to why they all died. Which is really sad, but at least the community is finding them, the phone calls are coming, and we’re rescuing the turtles and getting them to the rehab centre. They have a much better chance of survival than if nothing was done.”

To report marine animal strandings, call the RSPCA Qld on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625). A Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) officer in the relevant region will be contacted with your information and will determine the appropriate response.

“After hours, the RSPCA will call us, or one of the major contacts in the area. If we’re not available, we have a list of local people that can help as well.

"Now we’ve got the resources up here, it makes it a lot easier for the community to be involved in managing turtle strandings and the carry holders will make a huge difference,” Ms Taylor said.