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Turtle and dugong marine research project

The Bardi Jawi Rangers have been involved with the Kimberley Turtle and Dugong marine research project for more than two years.

The project, is the only one of its kind in the Kimberley, and is aimed at gathering information on the movements of the turtle and dugong, their breeding and feeding patterns, as well as the distances they can travel.

The Kimberley Land Council has been working with NAILSMA on the project and our research involves tagging the animals with a satellite transmitter which then tracks the movement patterns of the turtle and dugong as well as it depth profile. The movements of the animal can then be tracked and viewed using the Internet.

From the information being collected we will be able to learn more about the turtle and dugong and further continue our conservation projects aimed at protecting these animals.

 

Dugong Tagging: July 2009

The Bardi Jawi Rangers led a three-day research trip to tag dugongs, in the hope of learning more about the shy and mysterious animal.

Four dugongs were fitted with satellite tracking devices which record data on the dugong’s movements, breeding patterns, feeding grounds and water profile depth.

Bardi Jawi ranger Philip “Bibido” McCarthy said research collected from the satellite tracker would be used to establish a dugong management plan for the Kimberley coastline.

“This program is actually changing each of us individually, changing us to have a look at the long-term survival of the dugong species. It is giving us new ideas on conservation and saving the dugong for the future,’’ he said.

“There is a big chance that if we don’t look after it and we don’t put a management plan in place that we could lose the dugong.’’

McCarthy said working to conserve population numbers and ensure their survival was a wonderful feeling.

“It’s a really good feeling. It’s a really good feeling seeing them swim away. We are doing something that is obviously going to help us with a management plan and maybe preserve the dugong for a longer period, so it’s there to be enjoyed by our grandchildren,’’ he said.

Three boats and a spotter plane were used to assist rangers in the dugong tagging program. McCarthy said the spotter plane was used to locate the position of the dugong so the rangers could then fit a satellite tracker onto the dugong’s tail.

“We also measure how long it is, its width, its girth and we see what sex it is, whether it’s male or female and we try and hopefully get a sample from it before letting it go,’’ he said.

“Research and education is going to be the key to our management plan and the survival of the dugong.’’