12 Turtles wash up dead along beaches in Fraser Coast Region, Australia

DEAD turtles are littering some of the region’s beaches as strong northerly winds bring the carcasses in to shore.

Northerly winds have lashed the region since early last week, pushing the bodies of more than 12 turtles up onto some beaches.

In the sleepy seaside village of Boonooroo in the southern end of the Fraser Coast, resident Kate Cavanagh has spotted an increasing number of the marine reptiles rotting on the sand.

“After finding the first turtle, I received a message from another person from Boonooroo saying they had found a dead turtle near their house,” she said.

“Over these last two weeks there would have to be at least 12 dead turtles that I have seen.”

Ms Cavanagh said most of the animals she had found on the beach were large.

“I have only discovered a small baby turtle and it was long dead,” she said.

After a large turtle was found on a Torquay beach last week, a Department of Environment and Heritage Protection spokeswoman said turtles could die from several causes that were not obvious.

“In addition to boat strikes and predation from other marine animals – causes may include the health of the animal concerned or the availability of food,” she said.

“Prevailing winds and currents can carry stranded marine wildlife to other coastal areas, particularly bays, from wherever the stranding occurred.”

This is a more active time of year as turtles head into their breeding season and take advantage of the seagrass beds around Hervey Bay.

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