At least 32 turtles, many of them endangered green sea turtles, have been found dead on beaches in New South Wales, Australia, with some exhibiting the unusual symptom of bleeding eyes. Conservationists have launched an urgent investigation into the deaths.
The turtle deaths are concentrated in the Port Stephens Council area, with marine rescue group Sea Shelter reporting 25 green turtle deaths in the past month, including seven in the last week alone. The animals have been discovered at popular swimming spots such as Shoal Bay, Nelson Bay, and Corlette.
Multiple agencies, including the National Parks and Wildlife Services, the Department of Primary Industries, and Taronga Zoo's Australian Registry of Wildlife Health, are involved in the investigation. Autopsy samples are being collected, with results expected in a few weeks.
A spokesperson for the NPWS urged the public to report any sick or injured sea turtles to the authorities. Conservationists described the bleeding eyes as an unusual symptom and noted a potential link to recent flooding in the area, though the exact cause remains unknown.
This incident follows a mass stranding of over 400 Olive Ridley turtles on India's east coast earlier this year, likely due to fishing nets.
