Conservation warriors help save hundreds of threatened turtles

In February 2025, ex-tropical cyclone Alfred struck the NSW coastline in the middle of marine turtle nesting season. A large number of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) nests along a long stretch of coast were at risk of destruction as waves flooded sandy shores with debris and threatened to inundate or wash away clutches before they had a chance to hatch.

Supported by the Saving our Species program, NSW TurtleWatch, Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service came together for the largest turtle nest rescue ever recorded in New South Wales.

Saving nests from the storm

In the days before the cyclone hit, teams worked around the clock to relocate vulnerable nests from 9 beaches between Tweed Heads and Port Macquarie. A total of 1,248 eggs were rescued from 9 clutches and relocated to custom-built incubators.

Despite conditions deteriorating faster than expected, the coordinated effort paid off. Once the immediate threat of the cyclone had passed – and with the fragile eggs safe and warm in their temporary refuge – the team turned their focus to carefully returning the hatchlings to the same beaches where they were laid, to imprint before making their run to the sea.

Duane March, Team Leader, National Parks and Wildlife Service, said: ‘Whilst it is always our preference to leave eggs in situ and let nature takes its course, when the nests of threatened species face imminent danger from anthropogenic threats, such as storms of increased intensity due to changing climate conditions, it is great to be able to spring into action and help where we can.’

A community-powered success

From constructing emergency incubators out of eskies to monitoring nests day and night, the team showed what’s possible when people and science work hand in hand.

Merryn Dunleavy, Project Lead, NSW TurtleWatch said, ‘More than 300 hours were spent monitoring, rescuing, and relocating eggs in the lead-up to the cyclone. The success of the rescue and response operation can be attributed to the collaboration between communities and stakeholders at all levels. Every person played a part – from the NSW TurtleWatch citizen scientists who first monitored and reported these nests, ensuring we could respond efficiently and assure their protection, to the stakeholders and groups who helped make the rescue and incubation itself so successful. Each of our nests are very loved by our local communities, so it was great to be able to confirm the nests had been rescued.’

Building resilience for the future

The response to ex-tropical cyclone Alfred highlights the growing role of NSW’s coastline as a future climate refuge for marine turtles. It also demonstrates the need for adaptive management strategies that can respond quickly to extreme weather events.

By combining scientific expertise with community care, NSW TurtleWatch is ensuring that the vulnerable green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the endangered loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) continue their journey along our coasts.

Support turtle projects across New South Wales

Moments like these remind us why conservation matters. By supporting NSW TurtleWatch, you are helping safeguard threatened turtles and investing in the future health of our oceans.

If you want to get involved in supporting environmental efforts like this, start a conservation conversation with us today.