Overview
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service says it is investigating at least 32 turtle deaths across the Port Stephens coast in recent weeks.
- Rescue group Sea Shelter has logged 25 green turtle carcasses in the past month, including seven in the past week, at sites such as Shoal Bay, Nelson Bay and Corlette.
- Rescuers reported unusual signs on some animals, including bleeding around the eyes, prompting targeted pathology and toxicology testing.
- A multi-agency effort involves NPWS, the Department of Primary Industries and Taronga Zoo’s Australian Registry of Wildlife Health, which performed necropsies on two turtles and is testing samples from 15 more.
- Sea Shelter veterinarian Tom Tran is conducting necropsies and sending tissue to a specialist Sydney laboratory, while authorities urge the public to report sick or injured turtles to NPWS or local carers.