Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Photo: Pedro D. Vernet P. · CC BY-NC

Hawksbills inhabit the outer reef sections of the park, foraging on the rich sponge community on the horseshoe reef wall and resting under coral overhangs at 10–18 metres. The park's no-take status has allowed the reef sponge biomass to recover sufficiently to support a resident hawksbill population that is genuinely self-sustaining. Juveniles are frequently encountered in the inner lagoon where encrusting sponges on rubble patches provide accessible foraging for smaller individuals.