Transformed, Transformational

This morning marked the end of a four-month journey for Doris. From a sick, emaciated turtle with lesions across her shell, and covered with an unhealthy growth of algae, she has been transformed to glossy beautiful health. In a bittersweet moment for all of us who were there and who have been involved in her care, she was released into the waters off Blackbank, to the north of Norfolk Island, not far from Captain Cook’s monument today.

If you missed the beginning of this wonderful story, back in September 2022 Doris was plucked from Emily Bay on Norfolk Island looking sick and sad. You can read all about it in these two blog posts:

• #operationdoris – Green Sea Turtle Rescue

• #operationdoris – Update From Australian Marine Parks

In Greek mythology, Doris is a sea goddess who represents the fertility of the ocean – the goddess of the rich fishing grounds found where fresh water mingles with the brine. It seemed an apt name for our little turtle found, as she was, where the freshwater stream mixes with the salty waters of Emily Bay, hiding under a coral ledge, sick, weak and underweight.

Over the last four months, Doris has gone from being quietly submissive, to gradually asserting herself. Her personality quickly became evident and surprised us all; she told us in no uncertain terms what she wanted and didn’t want. Like a child, she would reject her greens, ignore us when she had had enough company, but then love having her back scratched. As she got better she became decidedly cranky, pacing back and forth in a tank that seemed to shrink around her as her personality shone. The call of the wild asserted itself. It was time.

Not only has Doris been transformed to health by a hard-working group of amazing local volunteers, but, I believe, she has proved transformational for many of us, too. The privilege of, and responsibility for, being able to care for a wild animal and to see her blossom into health is an experience many of us will never forget as long as we live.

Doris has taught us all something. She has touched our lives, educated us, informed our opinions, made us all so much more convinced that we can’t let this happen again to another turtle, to other wildlife. She has touched our lives; especially, she has talked to our schoolchildren – our future environmental custodians. Doris has alerted us to a problem in our waters like nothing and no one else could. And for that we owe her a big debt of thanks.

This morning, Hannah and Trish cradled Doris for her last journey, aboard Dave Biggs’s boat to an area of water that we considered would be a good clean habitat for her. We headed out to Blackbank, where we paused while Luca readied himself to enter the water to film this special moment. The ocean breathing gently around us as we waited – the mood quiet, sombre.

As we soaked in the moment, wildlife warrior, and our resident bird expert Margaret Christian, reminded us of a song her daughter Kath King had written some 15 years ago, presciently about a turtle at Blackbank.

‘Let’s sing it’ said Nat Grube, an islander, Doris volunteer and film crew.

And she did.

It was spontaneous, unscripted, and one of the most beautiful moments of my life.

Hannah slid Doris over the side and back into the bosom of the ocean, her home. We’ll miss her, but as she swam towards Luca, our hearts sang, too. She’s back where she should be, and hopefully she will now find her way in the world and, with luck, mature and breed, doing her little bit for the world’s endangered population of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas).

Mission accomplished.

And maybe, just maybe, I will be lucky enough to see her one day on one of my snorkels. I hope so. My camera will be ready.

Vital statistics

We believe Doris is around 10 years old.

Her curved carapace length is 48.5cm. And she weighs about 13.5 kg, a marked increase from when she arrived into our care at just shy of 9 kg.

Special thanks

They say it takes a village:

Nigel Greenup (National Parks), Hannah Taylor, Jenny Gildert (from the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre), Trish Le Mura, Candice the vet, Jamie Donaldson, all the Parks staff, Australian Marine Parks, Natalie Grube, Luca Fox, all the volunteers (so many of you, and such special people), and Dave Biggs. And, of course, every member of the Norfolk Island community who volunteered fish, greens, ointment, water tubs, courier services – and on and on it goes.

This really was a monumental effort for a small community. Thank you.