Poster of sand turtles created on World Turtle Day 2011 from across Australia (and Germany)

World Turtle Day is a great chance to get active and support the Wilderness Society's marine conservation work.

Creative conservation

It's easy and fun to help protect the important feeding and breeding sites of sea turtles.

Simply build a sand turtle on your local beach (or in a sand pit) before Wednesday 23 May 2012 and send us a photo of your finished creation. The more turtles, the louder our voices will be in support of their protection!

An international movement

World Turtle Day was launched 12 years ago by American NGO, American Tortoise Rescue. The aim of the day is to promote respect for turtles (and tortoises) globally, and to encourage humans to behave in a way that helps these special creatures survive and thrive.

The Wilderness Society believes in being part of an international conservation movement. That's why we're involved in World Turtle Day and affiliated with other conservation groups like the Sea Turtle Restoration Project (California, USA) who are currently campaigning to help protect Australian species like the Flatback Turtle.

Get involved

Join in the fun at one of our official activity sites:

Perth
Saturday 19 May 2012, 10.00am
Cottlesloe main beach
For more information contact Melissa Coiln

Melbourne
Sunday 20 May 2012, 1.00pm
St. Kilda beach
For more information contact Jaxon Barnes

Darwin
Sunday 20 May 2012, 3.00pm
Mindil beach (near the casino see map)
For more information contact Jess Abrahams

Newcastle
Sunday 20 May 2012, 11.00am
Nobby's beach
For more information contact Nicola Bowskill

Central NSW Coast
Sunday 20 May 2012, 2.00pm
Bateau Bay beach
For more information contact Roberta Dixon

Gold Coast
Saturday 19 May 2012, 1.00pm
Labrador beach (371 Marine Parade)
For more information contact Phil StClair
See: http://www.meetup.com/bucketlistbrisbane/events/64211762/

Cairns
Saturday 19th May 2012, 10:30am
Holloways Beach - near the stinger net
For more information contact Di Horsburgh

Or, just build your own sand turtle wherever you are and send us a photo:

Post your sand turtle shapshot to the Support Marine Sanctuaries Facebook page or take a picture with your phone and tweet it using the '#worldturtleday' hash tag or email it to us before World Turtle Day on Wednesday 23 May 2012. The best photo will receive an amazing James Price Point photographic book as a prize!

Approximately 300 kilometres north-east of Broome, Camden Sound is famous as the largest Humpback Whale calving area in the southern hemisphere. During calving season, it’s common for more than 1000 mother and baby Humpbacks to be found lolling about in these pristine coastal waters. Until now, these gentle giants have received little or no protection, but the new Camden Sound Marine Park will offer the northern end of this population some defense against mining, trawling and large commercial fishing operations.

The marine park will be jointly managed by the State Government and Traditional Owners, including the Dambimangari and Uunguu peoples. While a large portion of the park will be classified as 'general use', meaning that it's only partly protected from environmentally damaging activity, 20% will be fully protected as 'marine sanctuaries' – the deep sea equivalent of national parks. Included in this 20% is the jewel of Camden Sound, Montgomery Reef – the largest inshore reef in Australia and, now, the largest marine sanctuary in Western Australian waters.

This outcome is not perfect – the ‘general use’ zones of Camden Sound Marine Park will still be open to trawling and mining exploration, and the southern end of the Humpback Whale breeding area remains highly threatened by plans to build a huge gas hub at James Price Point – but it's a great result nonetheless and one we should all be proud of. Initially, only 13% of the park was slated to be recognised as a marine sanctuary zone. Together, we helped raise that percentage substantially, ensuring a healthier future for this watery region and the creatures who rely on it.

“The Kimberley’s marine environment is a natural wonder of the world – an underwater treasure on par with Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef, and a last refuge for threatened species like the Snubfin Dolphin, Dugong, and Green Sea Turtle” said Jenita Enevoldsen, Marine Campaigner for the Wilderness Society. “This area deserves to be protected, and now – because Australians cared enough to speak up –  it will be.”

Camden Sound Marine Park is the right way forward. It recognises that this region’s future is is dependant on protecting and promoting its unique natural and cultural values, not in pursuing destructive projects like the James Price Point gas hub. “We congratulate the Government on the creation of the Camden Sound Marine Park", continued Ms Enevoldsen, "And we look forward to the announcement of more marine sanctuaries to protect our pristine waters and unique wildlife for future generations to enjoy”.

Take action

Become a Kimberley Campaigner and be part of real actions and real outcomes for this special region.

Support our campaigns by making a tax deductible donation.