Returns of pond-reared juvenile green turtles tagged and released in Torres strait, Northern Australia

Published source details Kowarsky J. & Capelle M. (1979) Returns of pond-reared juvenile green turtles tagged and released in Torres strait, Northern Australia. Biological Conservation, 15, 207-214.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Head-start wild-caught reptiles for release: Sea turtles Action Link

Head-start wild-caught reptiles for release: Sea turtles

A replicated study in 1974–1975 in pelagic waters on the Torres Strait, northern Australia (Kowarsky & Capelle 1979) found that a small number of released head-started juvenile green Chelonia mydas and hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata turtles were recaptured in the first year after being released. In total, 12 of 1,082 head-started green turtles and 2 of 53 head-started hawksbill turtles were recaptured 12–400 days after being released. All green turtles recaptured were released from one island, two had been released in April–June and 10 had been released in August–October. Turtles had travelled 70–570 km from their point of release. Green and hawksbill turtles were collected as eggs and hatched in captivity or as newly emerged hatchlings. Turtles were kept in captivity and were at least 1–2 years old prior to release in March–October 1974 from different islands (1,082 green turtles released in four cohorts from three islands and 53 hawksbill turtles released in one cohort from one island). Turtles were tagged prior to release. Details of monitoring were not provided.

(Summarised by: Katie Sainsbury)