Turtley terrific by two - Danny and Portia back in the wild

7th of December 2023

Danny and Portia, two Green Sea Turtles have been released back into the wilds of the Great Barrier Reef, just off Green Island.

Released by the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre with French adventurer and presenter, Maud Fontenoy, both Danny and Portia had been in long-term care.

Danny, a juvenile turtle, had been found floating off Ellis Beach north of Cairns covered in barnacles and spent the next 18 months in the care of the CTRC team of volunteers..

Portia, aptly named after being found near Port Douglas, is a sub-adult female that had a neurological condition which required a lengthy four year rehabilitation.

It was an emotional and beautiful farewell from the CTRC team led by the centre’s co-founder Jennie Gilbert.

While they are now happily back in the wild, Danny’s travels will be monitored through a satellite tracking device attached to his back. This will enable researchers to see how turtles live in the region, and where and how far they travel in their natural habitat.

Green Island is the ideal home for the turtle duo, with its healthy population of juvenile green turtles and the significant seagrass beds in the shallows to graze on.

Pictured above: Danny, a juvenile Green sea turtle being released into the shallows of Green Island.

Pictured below: Portia being released off Green Island. Photos by Albert Jindra.