Page 13 - OCEAN ARTISTS SOCIETY - WInter 2017

for its size
LOGGERHEAD TURTLES
By Carole Elliott
Sure, Loggerhead turtles aren’t classed as an animal, however they are definitely BIG!
“The average Loggerhead measures around 90 cm (35 in) long when fully grown, although larger specimens of up to 280 cm (110 in) have been discovered. The adult Loggerhead sea turtle weighs approximately 135 kg (298 lb), with the largest specimens weighing in at more than 450 kg (1,000 lb).” - Wikipedia
I am fortunate enough to travel to Far North Queensland each winter to spend my time in the tropical sunshine and paint under the awning of our caravan. We always stop at Yeppoon, which has Great Keppel Island off its coast, along with some resident sea turtles, including the mighty Loggerhead. During nesting season, a special Loggerhead arrives on the beach opposite the caravan park to lay her eggs and I was lucky enough to have been able to paint her returning to the ocean.
“In Queensland, breeding and nesting occurs mainly in the southern Great Barrier Reef and adjacent mainland. A few hundred females now nest annually in the region. The eastern Australian Loggerhead turtle nesting beaches support the only significant stock of the species in the South Pacific Ocean.
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