BY NUMBERS
Turtle Territory
At Ningaloo Reef, endangered sea turtles find sanctuary – and visitors find bucket list wildlife encounters.
WORDS Anna Christensen
On the remote sun-drenched coastline of Ningaloo (Nyinggulu) Reef, you can snorkel in tandem with turtles, watch from the sand banks as enormous female turtles nest in the moonlight, or see tiny turtle hatchlings make their life-or-death sprint across the shore. But without recent efforts from conservationists, scientists and local communities, these incredible experiences might not exist for much longer.
For over a hundred million years, turtles have played a vital part in keeping the ocean – and, by proxy, the planet – healthy. They provide recycled nutrients to other creatures and maintain coral reefs by grazing on seagrasses and algae. But worldwide, six of seven sea turtle species are classified as threatened or endangered, partly due to loss of nesting grounds and human interference.
Turtle mating and nesting season occurs on the Ningaloo every year between the months of November to March, and Ningaloo is considered one of the most important nesting grounds in the world for green and loggerhead turtles.
These two species are globally classified as endangered, as well as the critically endangered hawksbill, hunted for its distinctive serrated-looking shell commonly sold as “tortoiseshell”. Jurabi Turtle Centre is making sure Ningaloo remains a turtle sanctuary, helping conserve and protect these rare species through education and a prolific on-site breeding ground. It also offers guided turtle eco-education tours so you can witness turtles in their natural habitat, without causing harm.
If you’re lucky enough to visit between November and March, you can watch as Ningaloo Reef’s 300-kilometre shoreline transforms into a front-row seat to one of nature’s most fascinating displays. Thousands of female turtles, some of which have travelled up to 1,000 kilometres thanks to their inbuilt navigational system, arrive in Ningaloo Reef to nest en masse. At the end of the season – some two months after the nesting – you might be lucky enough to glimpse adorable hatchlings emerge from their nests and sprint to the ocean.
But you don’t have to visit in nesting or hatching season to get up close to these magnificent creatures. At Turtle Holes, a secret snorkelling site just 500 metres from the barefoot-luxe safari camp Sal Salis, you can frolic with sea turtles year-round. Ningaloo is the world’s largest fringing reef, so you can go straight from the shore to snorkelling alongside giant turtles, a dazzling array of tropical fish and technicolour coral gardens. Grab a wetsuit and snorkel from your accommodation, get some refresher lessons and plunge into the sun-baked shallows. With a bit of luck (and more importantly, a lot of care), these prehistoric creatures will swim in Ningaloo’s pristine lagoons for millions of years to come.
NINGALOO BY NUMBERS…
The number of species of sea turtles recorded in Ningaloo Reef.
The degrees a nest needs to be to yield female hatchlings.
The speed (in kms) a leatherback turtle can swim.
The number of years (in millions) sea turtles have existed.
The average amount of eggs sea`turtles lay in a nest.
The average weight in kilograms of an adult green sea turtle.
THE DETAILS
STAY
Conservation is at the heart of Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, a beachfront safari camp that is truly at one with nature. Dream to the sound of waves crashing against the reef, enjoy five-star alfresco dining and experience epic wildlife – from swimming with whale sharks to snorkelling with sea turtles.