Wild life management in the Airport premises is becoming a tough job as infrastructure is breaches the natural habitats of such living beings. Western Sydney’s new airport is facing one such crisis involving the Turtles, which is very much a potent challenge now.
The land area adjacent to the Sydney’s newest airport is a major nesting area for the native turtles. This may create problems for the airport’s operations.
Talking about the Turtle invasions of airports, it's not a new Phenomenon. In the past, a freshwater turtle was found wandering Sydney Airport, which is built in Botany Bay.
Also In the year 2021, a turtle wandered on a runway at Japan's Narita International Airport causing five flights to be delayed before it was safely captured by airport staff walking across a runway.
In year 2017, an aircraft aborted takeoff because a 1.5m leatherback turtle was on the runway. And at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, employees hauled 1,300 turtles off the tarmac in just one nesting season.
Also , about 40 diamondback terrapins crawled out of Jamaica Bay and onto the airfield as per the observation of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said.
Generally, the Port Authority wildlife specialists collect these animals those wander too close to the runway and release them to safer areas.
The Conversation calls for greater responsibility , It says ,
The likely presence of turtles on runways at Western Sydney's new airport warrants immediate attention. The project and its network of major roads are a chance to demonstrate how major urban infrastructure and wildlife can coexist harmoniously.
However , a spokesperson for Western Sydney airport said that all of the required wildlife and risk management procedures would be in place when the airport starts operations in late 2026. She also mentioned that the turtle habitat was well outside of the airport site, so the risk of turtles on the runway was negligible.
