Queensland Environment Department rangers face anxious wait for baby loggerhead turtles to emerge at the Spit

RANGERS were shell shocked when they came across this turtle-y awesome discovery on a Gold Coast beach.

QUEENSLAND rangers are waiting anxiously for baby loggerhead turtles to poke their heads through the sand at the Spit after a nest was discovered last month.

The Environment Department said the endagered animal’s nest was discovered by locals last month.

But with rough seas and big swells forecast from Tropical Cyclone Gita officers decided to find and move the eggs which were nearly ready to hatch on February 15.

The eggs would have been lost if they hadn’t been moved.

The Environment Department said wildlife officers got expert advice on how to carry the 70 eggs to a safer spot.

“Not only did they have to avoid rotating the eggs during the move, they also had to find a similar spot for a nest, with the same density of sand and same amount of sunshine, and then they had to dig to the same level,” a statement read.

“Temperature in the nest is very important.

“Loggerheads take more than six weeks to hatch so they are due to emerge any day now.”

The department urged beach walkers to keep an eye out for hatchlings in coming weeks.

Marine turtles occasionally nest in the area, especially on South Stradbroke Island just across the Gold Coast seaway.