Drivers travelling along a popular stretch of Aussie coastline in 4WDs are being called out for the “tremendous damage” their reckless behaviour is inflicting on wildlife.
Two endangered species of turtles are perishing along the Cooloola Coast in Queensland — a 100km stretch of sand that’s home to a number of popular camping grounds — due to 4WD tourists travelling over dunes used for nesting. Drivers can often be forced up higher onto the beach by rising tides while driving at less than ideal times, a local wildlife rescuer says.
“It happens every night,” Jan Waters from Cooloola Coast Turtle Care told Yahoo News. “It’s generally young, inexperienced drivers who don’t stick to low-tide driving, so they retreat up in the dunes to drive home but they don’t realise the damage they’re doing.
“It’s not only detrimental to the wildlife, but also just to the environment because they’re doing tremendous damage,” she said.
Drivers are not only damaging nesting sites but tyre tracks are creating barriers between the nests and the ocean. Source: Jan Waters /Supplied
Stretch of Aussie coast ‘crucial’ for turtle population
On average the Cooloola Coast, just north of Noosa Heads, welcomes upwards of 30 nesting female turtles every season and the area is “crucial” for the species’ survival, with increased 4WD and camping activity causing concern for the already troubled populations.
“The Sunshine Coast only gets about 15 turtles and we get double the amount… we get big green turtles and loggerheads here, and they’re both endangered species,” Jan told Yahoo. “When the young hatch, there are often hundreds per nest heading to the ocean but they often get stuck in the four-wheel drive ruts and perish.”
With frustration boiling over, Jan shared pictures of the damage and waste left behind by 4WD tourists this week, referring to the culprits as “grubs”.
Jan said the offenders left rubbish behind on the beach. Source: Facebook
“Not only are they driving on these fragile dunes, but just look at what they leave behind,” she lamented.
Speaking to Yahoo, Jan called out the “scallywags” for their “lack of knowledge” and explained a few simple steps could help protect the marine animals while holidays are enjoyed.
Jan Waters and the team at Cooloola Coast Turtle Care are urging tourists to look out for turtles on the sane this time of year. Source: Supplied
What can drivers do to protect the turtles?
Wildlife helpers like Jan recommends three things drivers should be mindful of to avoid disturbing species in the area:
“It’s mostly tourists, the locals have seen these beautiful, big creatures come up and nest and lay… It’s the visitors and campers that really need to be aware,” she said.
Authorities crackdown on bad 4WD behaviour on beaches around the country
It’s an issue councils and wildlife authorities are dealing with in coastal communities around the country.
In South Australia – where authorities had to introduce new, lower speed limits on beaches recently – officials from the Department of Environment in November used a helicopter to catch drivers doing the wrong thing on the sand.
“With the assistance of a helicopter, long-range camera and radio communication, rangers were able to coordinate roadblocks on the ground to corral offenders,” a spokesperson told Yahoo News last week.
“The operation aimed to tackle concerns about degradation of national parks due to high traffic and unregistered vehicles riding off designated tracks.”
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