ENDANGERED LEATHERBACK TURTLE TRAPPED IN DRUM LINE CIRCLED BY SHARKS
WITH PIX AND VID
By Shuk Yee Tsang
An endangered Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) was caught in a shark control drum line.
Lucas Bar, a firefighter and commercial drone pilot, filmed the incident in Snapper Rocks, Queensland, Australia.
The turtle remained entangled for over 16 hours before being freed.
The footage shows sharks circling the trapped turtle and other marine life drawn closer to shore.
It highlights the unintended impact of Queensland’s lethal shark control program on non-target species.
Lucas hopes to raise awareness and campaign for the removal of drum lines in favour of non-lethal alternatives.
Lucas said: “I felt a mix of sadness, anger, and helplessness.
"Watching such a rare and ancient species struggle against something.
You know you’re witnessing unnecessary suffering, and you can’t do anything in that moment but record and hope it sparks change.
“I’ve seen whales trapped before, but this was the first time I’d ever seen an endangered Leatherback Turtle caught in a drum line.
" It’s one thing to hear about it, it’s another to watch it unfold in front of you.
“The reason I shot this was awareness. The more people who see what’s actually happening, the harder it becomes to ignore.
" Drum lines were introduced decades ago under the belief they’d keep beaches safer, but the science and now the footage show they don’t work.
"They actually attract marine life closer to shore instead of keeping them away.”
“The response has been overwhelming. People are heartbroken, angry, and asking why these nets and drum lines still exist.
“We share the ocean with these animals.
"It’s their home, not ours to obstruct. This footage is one small glimpse of a bigger problem, but if it helps drive lasting change, then it was worth capturing.”
ENDS
