SYDNEY, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- To prevent thousands of baby turtle eggs from drowning, Australian authorities in Queensland (QLD) have begun to transfer 15,000 cubic square meters of sand to an island in the state's north on Tuesday, that is home to the largest population of green turtles.
At the moment, one side of Raine Island is too low for the beloved turtles to nest, so the Queensland Government and a number of other supporters from industry and the local indigenous community, have joined together to move sand from one side of the beach to the other.
"Regenerating the sand dunes will raise the nesting area to above tidal inundation level," QLD National Parks Minister Steven Miles explained in a statement obtained by Xinhua.
"When the works are complete, an area of 200 metres by 150 metres will be lifted by one metre and any turtle eggs laid in this prime nesting area will have a better chance of survival."
The project is expected to take around three to four weeks and will also include the installation of 600 metres of turtle exclusion fencing around small cliffs.
"This will stop turtles who get up onto the small cliffs from falling down onto their backs and dying of heat exhaustion," QLD Member of Parliament Craig Crawford said.
"Work will also be done to re-shape a rock formation that scientists have dubbed 'Death Rock' due to adult turtles often becoming trapped under its overhangs and dying."
Back in 2014, a similar mission to re-profile sand dunes in the area led to hugely successful hatching rates for the green turtle population.
Many expect the current project to have an equally positive affect.
