Park frees endangered turtles

The National National
Leader of Wau Creek Conservation Area Frank John (left) and Port Moresby Nature Park curator Brett Smith releasing the endangered pig-nose turtle into the wild.

THE Port Moresby Nature Park released 27 endangered pig-nosed turtles back into the wild, bringing the total number of turtles brought in and released by the park to 45.
Park curator Brett Smith said the release wrapped up a five-year conservation project managed by the park and funded by ExxonMobil PNG Ltd as the operator of the PNG LNG project in collaboration with the Piku Biodiversity Network, University of Canberra and Wau Creek Conservation Area in Kikori, Gulf.
Smith said through their Head Start programme new-born animals were collected from the wild where their chance of survival was lowest.
They are then safely cared for in suitable facilities while they grow bigger and stronger before being returned to the wild.