Update on Mass Turtle Deaths in Queensland

Mystery of mass turtle death continues

JANE ARMITSTEAD | July 13th, 2012

CLINGING TO LIFE: JCU's Dr Ellen Ariel is trying to find out the cause of an illness that's injured or killed more than 70 turtles in the Burdekin region | Photo: FIONA HARDING

MARINE experts are baffled by the deaths of more than 60 turtles that have washed up on Burdekin shores.

About 74 green sea turtles in total have been found either dead or struggling for life at Wunjunga Beach, south of Home Hill, since early June with James Cook University scientists confused by the mystery killer.

Tests on two surviving adult female turtles are currently being taken at JCU. They were among five recovered from the beach.

JCU virology senior lecturer Dr Ellen Ariel said the turtles were suffering neurological symptoms with seizures, abnormal eye movements and uncontrollable flipper actions.

However one of the turtles has made a full recovery and is being released back into the ocean today.

"Nobody has ever seen anything like this before. To lose that many large animals is a real shame," Dr Ariel said.

"It is an awful lot of turtles and there is no indication that it was drowning-related in illegal fish nets and no scars," she said.

Dr Ariel ruled out infectious disease after blood samples were taken. She said she suspected the deaths could be toxin-related but was waiting on toxicology results for further answers.

"It is a very specific area and mostly female adult turtles," she said.

"It could be a neurological toxin that they could not metabolise," she said.

"Or it could be something in the sediment or in the filter feeders."

Residents feared dredging along the coast could be to blame for the deaths however Dr Ariel said no other animals had been impacted.

"We haven't seen any fish killed or juvenile turtles, dugongs or any other animals. If it was dredging you'd expect other animals to be affected as well."