Save the marine turtle - our gentle ocean giants
06 Jan 2009
Marine turtles, which have survived in our oceans for millions of years and have even outlived the dinosaurs, are now in a serious state of decline, with the world's seven marine turtle species all threatened with extinction.
Australia - home to six of the seven species of marine turtle - is one of the most important global locations for marine turtle conservation, housing the largest nesting populations of green and hawksbill turtles on earth.
Concerned about the plight of these gentle giants, Telstra has announced that for the month of January, it will donate $2.95 (less GST) to WWF every time a Telstra customer downloads a wallpaper of this species to a compatible mobile phone.*
Brands and Marketing Communications Executive Director, Amanda Johnston-Pell, said that Telstra and WWF were working together to expand wildlife protected areas and help protect Australia's threatened species such as marine turtles.
"Mobile phone subscribers can simply SMS 'WWF' to 13POND (13 7663) to have a marine turtle hatchling wallpaper sent to a compatible mobile phone. Funds raised will go towards conservation programs to help safeguard species, like the marine turtle, that are suffering serious population decline," Ms Johnston-Pell said.
Globally, WWF has been a powerful voice in marine turtle conservation, encouraging the fishing industry to take up turtle excluder devices and circle hooks in commercial operations, to prevent turtles drowning as a result of by-catch in trawling nets. By-catch is thought to be one of the main reasons that species such as the hawksbill turtle have declined by up to 80 per cent over three generations.
WWF-Australia's Oceans Program Leader, Dr Gilly Llewellyn, said: "Australia's waters are a playground for turtles from around the world. We therefore need to work very hard at keeping our beaches safe for nesting turtles while managing the threats posed by hooks, lines and nets of fishing gear by working with the fishing industry.
"The Australian people can play a key role in helping this species by keeping our waters and beaches clean and by avoiding disturbance at nesting sites. By ordering a wallpaper via BigPond, this will help ensure WWF can keep working towards securing a future for this species."
In 2004, the 'no-take' area of protection for the Great Barrier Reef was extended from 4.6 per cent to 33 per cent, providing a safe haven for a great many species. WWF is now encouraging the Federal Government to declare the neighbouring Coral Sea area a Marine Protected Area, which will offer further protection for our ancient mariners.
WWF recommends the following tips help protect the marine turtles:
- Avoid driving on beaches during the nesting season
- Don't let your rubbish get into the sea
- Order your marine turtle wallpaper by texting "WWF" to 13POND (13 7663)
*Costs will be $2.95 (incl GST) plus standard SMS charges for Telstra customers and $3.55 (incl GST) for other customers with compatible handsets. For more information visit www.wwf.org.au/wallpaper.
WWF-Australia Media Contact
Adam Harper
Mbl: 0423 614 466
Telstra Media Contact
Katarina Farrell
Mbl: 0439 496 400
