As the nesting season of turtles began this month, Australians are being urged to help combat the animal’s extinction by using their smartphones.

Scientists from the Western Sydney University have dubbed November as Turtle Month, which they say is a dangerous time of year for turtles as they leave the safety of the water to nest.

For this year’s Turtle Month, the university’s researchers are calling on more Australians to download and use TurtleSAT, a mobile application and website that help pinpoint the location of turtles across Australia. Through the app, “citizen scientists” can help log sightings of turtles, either alive or dead.

To date, there are close to 3,000 recordings on TurtleSAT as a result of previous efforts. By knowing where turtles are crossing roads or making their nests, new measures can be introduced to protect them, according to Dr Ricky Spencer, from the School of Science and Health. For example, the initiative resulted in the construction of road signs to warn drivers of areas where turtles are crossing, he says.

Spencer says as a result of citizen scientists in action, conservation agencies are also now directing resources into managing nesting grounds, rather than broad-scale poison baiting.

Despite these developments, time is running out for turtles around Australia, Spencer warns. He cites the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle, a species over two million years old, was reported to be in healthy numbers in January this year but was close to extinction by March. Throughout most of Australia, Spencer notes that the predation on nests and nesting females is extreme, with foxes able to destroy up to 100 per cent of turtle nests in an area.

Turtles perform important functions in the ecosystem, according to Spencer. They are top predators and major scavengers and if they disappear like they did in the Bellinger River, then water quality will be affected, he explains.

“The good news is there is hope. If people around Australia record their turtle sightings through TurtleSAT, we can take measures to protect the fragile populations still left, and help the animals recover,” Spencer says.

To encourage more Australians to use the app, TurtleSAT has introduced unique major prizes for citizen scientists this year. Those who could record a sighting will go into the draw to receive a series of amazing drawings and photos.

TurtleSAT is a collaboration of the University of Western Sydney, The University of Sydney, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Invasive Animals CRC, The Field Naturalist Society of South Australia and the Barbara Hardy Institute at the University of South Australia.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au or tell us what you think below.

RELATED STORIES