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| Dennis |
When rescuers first found the young sea turtle now known as Dennis, he was floating helplessly on the ocean’s surface — tangled in a ghost net, badly injured, and unable to dive for safety or food. His back flipper had been caught for so long that it was beyond saving. The only option was amputation.
For the past two years, Dennis has been cared for by the volunteer team at the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre (CTRC). With patience, specialised treatment, and constant monitoring, Dennis slowly regained strength and adapted to life with one hind flipper. Every milestone — from steady swimming to feeding confidently again — marked a step toward the possibility of release.
Now, Dennis has been returned to the ocean. Research shows that juvenile hawksbills often settle into coastal or reef habitats with abundant food resources and may remain there for extended periods before undertaking broader migrations (Avens et al., 2021; Matley et al., 2021). Dennis’ release marks the beginning of that next chapter — finding a safe patch of reef where he can feed, grow, and build the strength needed for the decades ahead (Van Houtan et al., 2016).
Dennis is estimated to be around 10 years old, still far from breeding age. Sea turtles typically mature in their late 20s to early 30s. He is also too young to sex, and without knowing the temperature of his incubation environment, his sex cannot be determined retrospectively. As warming sands have increasingly resulted in female‑skewed clutches, conservationists are hopeful Dennis may be male — a potentially valuable contributor to long‑term population stability.
Dennis was released at Moore Reef, from the Sunlover Reef Cruises pontoon — a calm, sheltered location suitable for a rehabilitated turtle re-entering the marine environment. Sunlover Reef Cruises is supporting the release by providing transport, access, and an opportunity for those present to learn more about the challenges facing marine turtles on the Great Barrier Reef. A satellite tracking tag, fitted in partnership with BioPixel Oceans Foundation, will allow researchers and the public to follow his movements via BioTracker: https://biotracker.tv/
The Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre receives no government funding. Their work relies entirely on donations and volunteer support. Contributions can be made here:
http://cairnsturtlerehab.org/sponsors/donor_form/
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