Volunteering at Delambre Island

The Delambre Island monitoring program is a unique experience where volunteers camp on the nesting beach of a high density flatback turtle rookery. The North West Shelf Flatback Turtle Conservation Program runs from mid-November to mid-December each year for four weeks. Monitoring on Delambre involves both night-time tagging and morning track counts.

Delambre Island is an uninhabited sandy island in Ngarluma Country off the coast of Karratha on the eastern extent of the Dampier Archipelago. The island is listed as a class C reserve with camping permitted on the island's southern half. The monitoring camp is set up on the southeast beach and monitoring occurs across the bottom portion of the island where nesting turtles are most accessible.

Key points

Summary of research activities

Monitoring on Delambre Island includes flipper tagging, PIT tagging, morphometric measurements, biopsy sampling, nest marking, and track counts.

Island experience

Accommodation on the island is a tent for each participant, with composting toilets provided and bathing done in the ocean due to limited access to fresh water. Phone reception is available but can be limited at times. Limited electricity is provided as all power comes from solar. Volunteers are free to swim, go fishing, or explore the island in their time off.

What to pack

Sheets, pillow, sleeping bag/blanket, casual clothing for all conditions, water bottle, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, towel/sarong, toiletries, medication, personal items, books and/or music, and fishing/swimming/snorkelling gear.

Information for volunteers

Delambre Island Volunteer Booklet

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Aerial view of volunteer camp setup at Delambre Island in 2021. Photo - Jenny Schilling

Volunteers at Delambre Island, 2022. Photo - Tristan Simpson/DBCA

A flatback turtle creates a nest in front of the volunteer camp setup. Photo - DBCA

Volunteer Taco Viets measuring a flatback turtle carapace on Delambre Island. Photo - Tristan Simpson/DBCA

A flatback turtle returning to the water after nesting on Delambre Island. Photo - Tristan Simpson/DBCA

Team Leader Sam Clarke with a flatback turtle on Delambre Island. Photo - Tristan Simspon/DBCA

Volunteers at Delambre Island. Photo - Tristan Simpson/DBCA

Aerial view of Delambre Island at sunset, 2021. Photo - Jenny Schilling

Volunteer Arianna observing a flatback returning to the water on Delambre Island. Photo - Tristan Simpson/DBCA

Volunteers Hera and Eva observing a flatback turtle nesting at Delambre Island, 2022. Photo - Tristan Simpson/DBCA

Thevenard Island

Delambre Island

Acknowledgement of Country

The Government of Western Australia acknowledges the traditional owners throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders both past and present.