Dead turtles found at Inskip Point, Fraser Island

A mass stranding of possibly starving sea turtles has caused confronting scenes at Inskip Point and on Fraser Island, with distressed holiday-makers the first to make the grim discovery. Here’s why they may have perished.

Eleven green sea turtles were found dead and washed ashore at a beach on Inskip Point on Saturday, August 13, while an unconfirmed number of others were found on nearby Fraser Island (K’Gari). Photo: Contributed

Wildlife rangers have been left scratching their heads after at least a dozen sea turtles mysteriously washed up on the Cooloola Coast and Fraser Island.

Eleven green sea turtles were found dead and washed ashore at a beach on Inskip Point on Saturday, August 13, while an unconfirmed number of others were found on nearby Fraser Island (K’Gari).

The discovery was made by distressed holiday-makers, who raised the alarm with local Queensland Parks and Wildlife rangers.

Perri Allyse said in a Facebook comment the dead animals were found along a kilometre-stretch of Inskip Point.

But rangers were unable to confirm a cause of death, as the animals were “too decomposed” to perform a necropsy.

A dead turtle washed up at Fraser Island (K'Gari). Photo: Brad Bowen on Facebook.

A Department of Environmental Science spokesperson said it was possible the turtles had died from starvation, after silt from the numerous flood events killed the seagrass which the animals feed on.

This was a “natural process,” they said.

Nonetheless, the dead animals, believed to have been “stranded”, were swiftly removed by rangers.

“They strand for a reason and could be ill or carrying disease,” they said.

Ollie Jackson, who came across the turtles while camping at Inskip, said he found the scene “pretty distressing” in a Facebook post.

Anyone who discovered a living, stranded turtle is urged not to return it to the water.

Adam Blaxland said “hundreds if not thousands” of dead fish were found at Teewah Beach on Monday. Photo: Facebook

It comes as “hundreds if not thousands” of dead fish were also found washed ashore at Teewah Beach by Adam Blaxland, who took to Facebook after the startling discovery.

Rumours swirled as to what happened to the creatures in the comments of the post.

Mark Wildman said the fish may have died from microplastics in the water.

“(There is) more rubbish at Teewah than the tip. It’s disgusting,” he said.

Anyone who comes across a dead sea creature is urged to contact rangers on 1300 130 372.

Originally published as Dead turtles found at Inskip Point, Fraser Island