State: Queensland Eco
Operator: Adventure Express
Minimum Price: AUD $ 750

Make a difference with Cape York Turtle Rescue Camp in the aboriginal community of Mapoon. Help indigenous residents and researchers to protect the turtles and other marine life from ghost nets and feral pigs.

Duties Include:

• Quantify the size and structure of nesting populations
• Monitor trends in the nesting environment
• Quantify nesting turtle fecundity including clutch size, clutches per season, egg morphometrics
• Protection of nesting sites
• Incidence of feral pig predation on unprotected nests
• Evaluate prototype Feral Pig Exclusion Devices
• Identify and record ghost nets on beach
• Assist Rangers with the removal and disposal of ghost nets
  

*Pick-up from Weipa airport to meet the 12.20pm from Cairns and drop-off at Airport to meet the 1.10pm flight to Cairns.

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About Cape York Turtle Rescue: 

Welcome to Cape York Turtle Rescue. Our research with these critically endangered animals is conducted in one of the most interesting regions of Queensland. The areas we go to are some of the most remote and isolated parts of the coast and we hope that you will get the most from your experience. Your role is crucial in assisting us in various aspects of data collection. Whether you choose to be involved in either a nesting or general survey you will have lots of "hands on"participation including tagging and measuring turtles. You could also be involved in other aspects such as counting and measuring eggs.

Mapoon is an Aboriginal community about 90 kilometres north of Weipa on the west coast of Australia's Cape York Peninsula - just 200 kms from 'the tip' - Australia's most northerly point. Around 280 people live in Mapoon and there are 3 Aboriginal Rangers from the community who are responsible for looking after over 85 kilometres of beach along the eastern side of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The traditional Aboriginal owners of Mapoon sea country have assigned these Rangers with the responsibility of protecting and monitoring turtles which nest on these beaches. There are 7 species of marine turtles worldwide and 4 of those species forage and nest on the eastern beaches of the Gulf of Carpentaria. They are the Green, Olive Ridley, Hawksbill and Flat Back turtles.

Sea turtles on Western Cape York are in real decline, with nesting populations threatened with extinction within 25 years. Adult animals are being entangled and drowned in ghost nets and a large population of marauding feral pigs are predating over 95% of nests on some beaches. When combined with the fact that sea turtles have relatively low reproductive success and high juvenile mortality, it follows that the future for turtles on the Western Cape is critical.

Part of the Cape York Turtle Rescue strategy is to better understand the needs of the turtles from a scientific perspective. This lack of knowledge to date has limited opportunities to develop effective and culturally acceptable conservation and management measures in the region.

Participants in our turtle expeditions will work with Rangers to assist with identifying nesting turtles, installing Feral Pig Exclusion Devices (FPEDs), and collecting and compiling data to develop a sustainable management strategy.

ctivities will involve patrols of up to 24 kilometres of beach from Janie Creek to the Pennefather River - the traditional country of the Yupungathi people. Camp Chivaree has been established on the northern bank of Janie Creek on Tjungundji lands to access the project site by boat and 4WD.

Camps are scheduled to coincide with peak nesting times for the Olive Ridley and Flat Back turtles. These occur during the new and full moon phases from July through November. Part of the work to be undertaken is identification of species, incidence, numbers, locations and time frames. Project participants are essential to the success of the expeditions and are involved in all aspects of the work the Rangers undertake.

Accommodation / The Camp:

The camp is located in a grove of casuarina trees where tidal Janie Creek flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria. Sleeping accommodation is in "Tourer" tents designed to sleep 4 but configured by us to sleep a maximum of 2. They are fitted out with deluxe mattresses, stretchers and pillows.

The camp ground faces west across the Gulf and from here it is a short dingy ride across the creek to Flinders Beach where the turtle activity takes place. Being close to the project site is important because activity is based around the moon and tides with a lot of the work taking place after dark. Camp Chivaree is a special wilderness camping experience.

Meals:

As far as the tucker is concerned, we generally cater for omnivores, however a vegetarian or special diet can be arranged with prior notification. We bring all food to the camp, already packed.

Here is a sampling of the foods you might expect in the field. Please bear in mind that variety depends on availability.

• Breakfast - cereal, milk, toast, juice plus a cooked breakfast
• Lunch - cold meat and salads, salad sandwiches, fish or mud crab depending on availability
• Dinner - good healthy meals with an emphasis on carbohydrates to fuel the evening's activities
• Snacks - dried fruit, cookies/biscuits, self-saucing pudding, fruit cake, tinned fruit, bread, fresh fruit

 

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 What's Included?

• Accommodation in spacious 2 person tents on platforms
• 3 meals per day and light refreshments as necessary
• Round trip transport from Weipa airport to Camp Chivaree (except on the 2 night camp)
• Travel in boats and 4WD vehicles as necessary
• Opportunities to spend time with Mapoon people
• Linen

What's not Included?

• Snacks and beverages other than indicated above
• Alcoholic beverages
• Flights to and from Weipa
• Insurance 

Notes:

Special Departure Dates: 2 night Camp starts on Tuesdays & ends Thursdays - $750 per person
3 night camps begin on a Saturday & end on a Tuesday - $1125 per person
5 night camps begin on a Saturday & end on a Thursday - $1875 per person
Trip Duration: 5 days
Departs from: Camp Chivaree
Tour Ends: Camp Chivaree