A rare Loggerhead turtle nesting on the Coffs Coast has turned into a powerful win for conservation, with 135 hatchlings safely reaching the ocean thanks to a rapid rescue operation led by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
On 17 December 2025, a beachgoer on Sapphire Beach spotted an endangered Loggerhead turtle nesting, an event rarely seen in the region.
When NPWS and Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary (CCWS) arrived, they discovered the nest had been laid below the high‑tide line after heavy erosion, leaving the entire clutch at immediate risk of being washed away.
Working under moonlight, the NPWS staff and CCWS carefully excavated 140 eggs and transferred them to NSW TurtleWatch for controlled incubation and 24-hour monitoring by accredited volunteers.
On 2 March 2026 NPWS and NSW TurtleWatch coordinated a night-time release at Campbells Beach under perfect low‑tide, low‑predation conditions, in which all 135 hatchlings reached the water and follow‑up monitoring confirmed zero washbacks.
Loggerhead turtles are endangered, and nesting at Coffs Coast is rare, so protecting healthy dune systems remains critical as they stabilise beaches, shield nests from storms and erosion, and provide the safe habitat turtles need to nest.
NPWS reminds the community that clearing or damaging dune vegetation is illegal and undermines the survival of threatened species including future nesting turtles.
This conservation win was made possible through a strong partnership between NPWS, NSW TurtleWatch, Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary and the local community.
It also demonstrates what’s possible when expertise, volunteers and quick public reporting combine.
NPWS encourages beachgoers to report turtle tracks, nesting attempts or hatchlings to NPWS by phoning 1300 072 757 or NSW TurtleWatch on their 24-hour nesting hotline by phoning 0447 877 149.
Everyone can help protect turtles by:
- keeping off dune vegetation
- keeping dogs away from beaches at night
- reducing artificial lighting near the shore
- not approaching their nests.
“The safe release of 135 Loggerhead hatchlings under ideal conditions is a remarkable community‑supported conservation success,” said NPWS Acting Coffs Coast Area Manager Andrew Pitzen.
“Thanks to the quick report from a member of the public and the coordinated efforts of NPWS staff, NSW TurtleWatch and Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary, a nest that would likely have been lost to the tide has resulted in an outstanding 96% hatch rate. This highlights the importance of protecting dune systems and reporting nesting activity promptly.”
“The preference is always to leave nests in-situ to develop naturally in the environment, however a number of nests were at risk of inundation this season with normal high tides threatening to devastate our NSW nests,” said NSW TurtleWatch Project Officer Merryn Dunleavy.
“Incubation for this nest was necessary to safeguard the survival of the clutch. Rapid reporting gives us the crucial time needed to assess a nest and act before rising tides or predators threaten it. Community vigilance is the most powerful way we can protect threatened marine turtles.”
Learn more: coffscoastwildlifesanctuary.com.au | NSW TurtleWatch
