The heat had made virtually every turtle hatchling a FEMALE. So these mainly female turtles will roam the many dangers of the ocean looking for an elusive male turtle.
Bundaberg, QLD
A few years ago, just before Christmas, I visited Mon Repos turtle sanctuary near Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia. With 400 people, I watched a lone turtle lay her eggs.
I learned turtles come back to same beach some 30 years after they hatched to lay eggs. I learned it is natural, normal that only 80 per cent of turtle eggs laid actually hatch.
Then on TV news in February, when it was so hot on the beach, two things happened. One – that 80 per cent of the hatchlings that tried to race across hot sands to ocean DIED on the beach, Remember that only 80 per cent of eggs hatched in first place. SECOND – the heat had made virtually every turtle hatchling a FEMALE.
So over next 30 years these mainly female turtles will roam the many dangers of the ocean looking for an elusive male turtle. Then in 30 years, virtually zero turtles will be left to come back to lay eggs on that beach.
Hundreds of people from across the country are sharing their stories to send a clear message to the Australian government - it's time for real action on climate change.
Every story appears as a point on this map. Click around to read how climate change is affecting our communities, and add your own story to the map.
People all across Australia are being harmed by climate change. These are some of their stories.
We're reviewing your story now. As soon as it's up on the website we'll send you an email to let you know. We need as many people as possible to share their climate stories - so we can show the government that Australians need urgent climate action. Will you spread the word by sharing this campaign on social media?
Share on Instagram Share on Twitter Share on FacebookWill you stand with us and share your story of how climate change is affecting you, your family and your community?
It doesn't matter how big or small the impact you've felt - everyone's story is important.
Together we can show the government that taking real climate action is in everyone’s interest.
