Two Rescued Baby Turtles Begin 1,400km Journey Home

Volunteers at a Western Australian marine rescue center openly wept as they said goodbye to two baby loggerhead turtles they've cared for like family for the past two years.

Squirdle and Treasure arrived at Bunbury's Dolphin Discovery Centre in 2024, exhausted and dehydrated after winter storms washed them ashore. One was missing a front flipper, and both were in shock from the ordeal.

"I'm trying not to cry," said volunteer Yasmin Taylor at Wednesday's farewell ceremony. "Today is tough. I have helped in the care and animal husbandry of these guys, so I've become quite attached."

The turtles faced unique challenges during their recovery. Squirdle needed special monitoring to ensure he could navigate the ocean with just three flippers and no buoyancy issues. Treasure took longer to recover from the shock of being stranded.

After extensive veterinary assessments and X-rays confirming neither turtle had ingested plastic, both were cleared for their journey home. They'll be flown to Exmouth in WA's northwest, then released by boat into the Exmouth Continental Shelf, where they're expected to swim west toward Madagascar.

Aquarist Chantelle Dixon watched them grow from tiny hatchlings that fit in her palm to turtles she can barely lift. "It's an emotional time but I'm so happy to have them back in the wild," she said.

The Ripple Effect

This rescue matters beyond two individual turtles. Only one in every 1,000 loggerhead hatchlings survives to maturity, making each rescue critical for the endangered species.

Emily Ehlers from the Dolphin Discovery Centre explained why immediate intervention saves lives. When young turtles wash ashore during storms, they've been kicked out of the Leeuwin Current and are dangerously cold and exhausted. Without proper rehabilitation, they face almost certain death if simply returned to the water.

The center's work depends on community members who find stranded turtles and bring them in for care. "Knowing we've put two juveniles back into the water is really important for the species," Ehlers said.

As Squirdle and Treasure settled into their custom transport crates, Taylor shared one final message: "Be safe, enjoy your freedom, and make us lots of babies. And make sure you don't wash back up on the beach."

The tears were bittersweet, but the smiles won out.