Gaining skills to build turtle nest cages

Two land and sea ranger groups have learnt how to build turtle nest cages, a vital tool used by the Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance (WCTTAA) to protect marine turtle eggs and nests from predators.

In February, 16 rangers completed a four-day training course in Mapoon focused on welding aluminium and fabricating the cages. As part of the training, the group modified the design and built new cages that will now be used during the turtle nesting season.

Learning new skills

Anthony Lowden-Kearing from the Mapoon Land and Sea Rangers said the course covered a range of practical skills to make the cages, including cutting and grinding.

“I really enjoyed the training, and I hope to build each cage in less than an hour after completing the course. I think these skills will also help our team on other projects,” he said.

Shalika Wapau from the Nanum Wungthim Land and Sea Rangers said it was valuable to learn the process from start to finish.

“It was great to make the aluminium cages for the first time, which will now be used to protect turtle nests. It was also good to find out about the correct PPE to use to make sure we’re safe,” she said.

Protection cages in use for a decade

The purpose-built cages were originally designed in 2016 by former Pormpuraaw Ranger Coordinator Robbie Morris and have since been widely used by WCTTAA.

They have proven highly effective at preventing feral pigs, dogs and goannas from raiding turtle nests, while also acting as a visual reminder for people driving on beaches to avoid the nests.

Project Officer Scott Morrison from Cape York NRM said protecting turtle nests from feral pigs is critical for improving hatchling survival.

“Feral pigs are incredibly smart and persistent predators. They can smell turtle eggs and consume multiple nests in one night,” he said.

“Unfortunately, northern Queensland has one of the densest feral pig populations in Australia, and many of our most important turtle nesting areas occur in the same places.”

The cages are placed over nests by rangers during the nesting season. Some nests are also tagged and monitored, with data collected on nest location, turtle species, hatching success, predator attempts and nest temperature.

The mesh openings are large enough for hatchlings to escape the nest and reach the sea, but small enough to keep predators out. Some cages are also fitted with shade cloth to help reduce nest temperatures.

Building capacity to construct cages on the Cape

Cape York NRM’s Program Lead for Marine Turtle Conservation, Dr Manuela Fischer, said building the cages locally will help ranger groups across the region access more of them.

“One of the issues often raised in WCTTAA forums is the limited number of cages,” she said.

“By upskilling rangers to weld aluminium and fabricate the cages themselves, they can be built locally and also supplied to other Cape York ranger groups.”

With the west coast turtle nesting season typically beginning in late May or early June, the training ensures there is still time to build additional cages before nesting activity starts.

The training was delivered by Rudi Schincariol from Civil Safety, with a further course scheduled to take place during April for the Kowanyama Land and Sea Rangers.

WCTTAA is a partnership of Indigenous land and sea owners and managers from Apudthama Land Trust and the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council, Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council, Mapoon, Pormpuraaw, Aak Puul Ngantam Cape York and Kowanyama. 

WCTTAA is supported by Cape York NRM through funding from the Australian and Queensland Governments' Nest to Ocean Turtle Protection Program.

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