Dead turtle located on Lilley’s Beach, Boyne Island as CQ Turtle volunteer urges local boaties to take care on the water

A local volunteer made the tragic discovery on Thursday morning as he said the incident should remind local boaties to take extra care on the water. Here’s what we know.

A dead turtle that washed up on a popular Gladstone beach is believed to have suffered a painful death as the volunteer who buried the animal wants local boaties to take extra care on the water.

A 111cm female green turtle was found dead at Lilley’s Beach, Boyne Island on Thursday morning with significant damage to its shell understood to be from a recreational vessel.

CQ Turtle volunteer, Ian Anderson made the discovery and after burying the animal, reported the incident to the The Marine Wildlife Strandings and Mortality Database (StrandNet) which monitors the frequency and causes of mortality for marine life in Queensland.

A female green turtle was located dead on Lilley’s Beach, Boyne Island with its likely cause of death attributed to a propeller strike from a recreational vessel offshore. Picture: Ian Anderson

It comes as the Gladstone Airport rain gauge recorded more than 117mm overnight, the heaviest total for the period in Queensland, as severe weather has caused flash flooding and power outages to parts of Central Queensland.

With no tag, there was no data available on the turtle but Mr Anderson believes the female was about 50 years old.

He said the animal likely suffered a “very painful death” offshore and would have suffered over a number of days.

Ian Anderson is a volunteer with CQ Turtle Rescues and leads a number of events assisting turtle hatchings and beach clean-ups across Central Queensland. Picture: Supplied

“The lungs are just underneath where the propeller strike is, so any significant injury there can result in them drowning,” Mr Anderson said.

“It’s just tragic and should serve as an important reminder for boaties to maintain good visibility and slow down.”

Judging from the size of the width, depth and length of the cuts — the largest being 26cm — he said it was likely from a large outboard motor.

Mr Anderson said there had been a number of turtles mating in the area over previous weeks, and as they mate near the water’s surface it was important boaties take extra care.

A closer look at the damage to the turtle shell believed to be from a recreational vessel offshore from Lilley’s Beach, Boyne Island. Picture: Ian Anderson

He said there were a number of sightings in Gladstone Harbour the Boyne River mouth recently.

He believes it is unlikely the turtle was near the surface because of illness such as floating syndrome as the animal appeared to be otherwise healthy and was likely mating at the time of the strike.

The incident was reported to the Department of Environment and Science (DES).

Originally published as Dead turtle located on Lilley’s Beach, Boyne Island as CQ Turtle volunteer urges local boaties to take care on the water