Image credit: Harry Butler Institute at Murdoch University and Western Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions.
Image credit: Harry Butler Institute at Murdoch University and Western Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions.

Incredible footage reveals flatback sea turtle defending itself against shark attack

Embargoed until: Publicly released:
Peer-reviewed: This work was reviewed and scrutinised by relevant independent experts.

Researchers from Murdoch University’s Harry Butler Institute and Western Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions (DBCA) have captured fascinating video footage of a shark attacking a sea turtle from the turtle’s perspective.

Journal/conference: Ecology

Link to research (DOI): 10.1002/ECY.3251

Organisation/s: Murdoch University, Western Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions

Funder: The project in Yawuru Nagulagun Roebuck Bay Marine Park is run by the Western Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions (DBCA) as part of the Yawuru Nagulagun joint management program and also in collaboration with the Yawuru PBC. It would not have been possible without the contribution of traditional ecological knowledge .

Media release

From: Murdoch University
  • Researchers from Murdoch University’s Harry Butler Institute and Western Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions (DBCA) have captured world-first video footage of a shark attacking a sea turtle from the turtle’s perspective.
  • The flatback turtle used aggressive biting lunges towards the attacking tiger shark, successfully deterring the shark before its high-speed escape.
  • The study encourages the uptake of contemporary technologies to advance understanding of the behaviours of cryptic animals, known for their ability to avoid observation or detection by other animals.

A sea turtle’s shell is an iconic trait, protecting these ocean wanderers from becoming the next meal of a hungry shark. As such, they are often perceived as placid creatures that hide behind their protective “shield” at the first sign of danger.

New research from Murdoch University’s Harry Butler Institute and the WA DBCA challenges this view after capturing first-time footage of a flatback sea turtle aggressively fending off a tiger shark attack.

The entire interaction was captured using novel ‘smart tags’ akin to wearing an action camera coupled with a Fitbit, which were attached to the sea turtle.

PhD Candidate Jenna Hounslow from Murdoch University’s Harry Butler Institute said it is not surprising that a tiger shark would attempt to kill and eat a sea turtle, considering they are one of the main prey items of tiger sharks

“What amazed me was to see the turtle aggressively defending itself by attempting to bite the attacking shark,” Ms Hounslow said.

The footage was captured as part of a larger project of the WA DBCA Marine Science Program, in conjunction with the Yawuru Joint Management program (between the Yawuru Native Title Prescribed Body Corporate (PBC) and DBCA), as well as the participation of the Yawuru Country Managers. The project studies turtle foraging behaviour in Roebuck Bay in Western Australia, in the hope of revealing the poorly understood lives of flatback turtles on their feeding grounds.

The findings from the video encourage the use of contemporary technology to observe sea animals more closely in future research projects.

Ms Hounslow explained aggression and fighting behaviour may have been previously overlooked as anti-predator behaviour in sea turtles.

“This is simply because documenting an animal’s point of view for extended periods underwater has only recently become possible."

Dr Sabrina Fossette from WA DBCA added that many aspects of the lifecycle of flatback turtles are still relatively unknown to science.

“This new technology offers us unparalleled insight into what these turtles do when they are at sea away from their nesting beaches, which represents the largest portion, yet most poorly understood, aspect of their lives.” Dr Fossette said.

“Unlike land tortoises, sea turtles cannot fully withdraw into their shell,” Ms Hounslow added.

“We suspect the aggressive behaviour is simply a means to reduce the chances of being eaten when the shell does not offer full protection. On this occasion, the turtle was able to escape the shark unscathed.”

Background:

  • The research paper is titled ‘Animal-borne video from a sea turtle reveals novel anti-predator behaviours’ published in Ecology. Read the full paper online.
  • This research is part of the North West Shelf Flatback Turtle Conservation Program, a ground-breaking research project at the recently identified flatback foraging ground.
  • The project in Yawuru Nagulagun Roebuck Bay Marine Park is run by the DBCA as part of the Yawuru Nagulagun joint management program and also in collaboration with the Yawuru PBC. It would not have been possible without the contribution of traditional ecological knowledge from traditional owners and the Yawuru Country Managers involvement.
  • Watch the interaction online.

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    Interaction between flatback sea turtle lunging at shark attack

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