Turtle

Sea turtles are amazing ocean reptiles that have lived on Earth for millions of years. Three species are regularly seen in Sydney waters: the Green Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, and Leatherback Turtle.

Green Turtles have a small head, a hard shell, and strong front flippers that help them glide through the water. Like all turtles, they must come to the surface to breathe air.

Sea turtles live in oceans, coastal waters, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows. These habitats provide food, shelter, and safe places to grow.

Green Turtles are found in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including many parts of Australia.

Young Green Turtles eat small animals such as jellyfish and other marine creatures. As they grow older, they mostly eat seagrass and algae.

Sea turtles spend almost their entire lives in the ocean. Female turtles return to sandy beaches to lay around 100 eggs in a nest, which they carefully cover with sand before returning to the sea.

Sea turtles grow very slowly and can take 30 to 50 years to become adults. Hatchlings must make their own journey from the nest to the ocean.

All sea turtles in Australian waters are protected. Their populations face threats from pollution, fishing nets, plastic waste, and introduced predators that eat turtle eggs.