The Turtle Hospital at the Reef HQ
I love being able to expose my kids to experiences they will remember and that will positively influence their worldview. They loved seeing marine turtles in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park off Green Island. Unfortunately all resident species of marine turtle in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park are considered threatened. The Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville operates a Turtle Hospital that cares for and rehabilitates sick and injured sea turtles. Operating under the philosophy of “C.A.R.E” Conserve, Act, Rehabilitate and Educate, the Turtle Hospital allowed my kids to learn first hand the impact of poor global stewardship, in this instance a beautiful threatened species.
According to the Australian Government Department of Environment marine turtles are threatened by “pollution and changes to important turtle habitats, especially coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove forests and nesting beaches. Other threats include accidental drowning in fishing gear.” The Turtle Hospital staff also shared with my kids that ingestion of plastic shopping bags, which turtles mistake for jellyfish is another serious threat.
There is no doubt that the Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville is a fun day out with kids – think touch tanks, a play-room, interactive computer learning and tanks of stunning sea life. It was the Turtle Hospital though that made a profound impact on my five year old, leading him to state that Reef HQ Aquarium was the “best aquarium we’ve ever been to.”
The Reef HQ Aquarium is located on Flinders Street East, and easy walk from the Townsville CBD.
At the Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville
Touch Tank at the Reef HQ
You may also be interested in the post “Townsville by the Sea.”
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Thanks to the Reef HQ Aquarium for hosting us as their guests.
