Green Turtles, Crocodiles and Ella Bay

I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted a new story but trust me I have had a few big fish to fry lately!

Today Ma:mu/Mandubarra traditional owner James Epong and I were fortunate enough to be invited to give a joint presentation on local turtle nesting to the Cassowary Coast Regional Council.

The star of the show was a turtle we called 108 as it was the 108th green turtle hatchling to make its dash for the ocean from a nest only metres away from the Ella Bay Road.

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Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Upset Ma:mu Traditional Owners and Conservationists at Ella Bay

This will be a long story as it covers some pretty important topics like, respect for country, traditional owner’s rights, and long term conservation goals.

On 7 January 2010 I was very disappointed to observe two fresh sets of quad bike tracks exiting the Ella Bay Pty Ltd property and travelling north along Ella Bay.
Ella Bay Pty Ltd management and staff have made assurances that they would no longer drive vehicles along this turtle nesting beach.

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Jayden Dowdle helps marine turtle in distress

On 18 November 2009 whilst looking at “Letters to the Editor” (LTE) in the Cairns Post I stumbled upon this gem by Jayden Dowdle, age 13 of Kanimbla.

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Sea Turtles - a poem by Matilda Bishop

Sea Turtles

Swimming slowly, in the sea
This is where sea turtles can be
Swimming straightly up and down
Swimming, blending, to the ground
Bunch of jellies, swim together
Lightly, lightly like a feather
There goes one, there goes two
Then scares another like saying 'boo'
This is where we find turtles in the sea
This is where they be
They would like to stay
on earth like you
So help these animals
stay here, too!!

Matilda Bishop aged 10, loves Ella Bay as well turtles!

Ellie Bock, President of the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre forwarded this poem for sharing on the Ella Bay blog.

The gorgeous watercolour of the splendid sea turtle is by Kimberley Payard, a Far North Queensland artist whose love affair with the sea goes as far back as she can remember. For nearly two decades, she has lived and worked on the Great Barrier Reef as an adventure diver and professional underwater photographer. Her website www.greatbarrierreef.net.au is dedicated to restoring the balance of nature on our planet.

Thank you ladies for sharing these wonderful expressions of our beloved marine life!

Marine Wildlife Australia and marine mammals of Ella Bay

Gifted marine biologist, Blanche Danastas from Marine Wildlife Australia has frequently expressed her grave concern for the marine life at Ella Bay. Not just the turtles but also dugong and dolphin species. She has recently been awarded sponsorship by Vodafone to support her work to protect Australia’s threatened marine mammals especially our only native dolphin the snubfin dolphin whose territory includes Ella bay.

Snubfin dolphin (Photo by Dr Guido Parra)

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Ella Bay, Turtles and me

A few people have asked what got me interested in Ella Bay so I thought the blog is a great place to tell it!

I was at the Bramston Beach boat ramp last December putting the kayak on the car when my kayaking friend Tim Connolly paddled into the creek. After telling him about a cluster of marine turtle nests near Joyce Creek Tim suggested we visit Ella Bay as he had seen what he believed to be marine turtle sign on the beach there. I had never seen this place that everyone raves about so how could I refuse the invitation!

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