World Turtle Day marked in sand

Giant sand sculptures of flatback turtles have been crafted at beaches around
Australia to highlight World Turtle Day and urge the federal government to establish
marine sanctuaries.
People gathered on Sunday to make the sand turtles at beaches at Perth, Darwin,
Cairns, Broome and elsewhere.
The event was organised by the Australian Marine Conservation Society and The
Wilderness Society of WA.
They are calling for the federal government to establish a network of marine
sanctuaries off Australia's northern coast to protect the turtles and other marine
life.
Flatback turtles are only found in Australia.
Wilderness Society WA spokeswoman Jenita Enevoldsen said they were threatened by
climate change, pollution, the expanding resource industry and drifting "ghost nets"
lost off fishing boats.
She said not enough was known about flatbacks and just how threatened they were.
"We are asking for marine sanctuaries to ensure flatback turtle feeding and breeding
grounds are protected," she said.