Weather News

Cyclone takes heavy toll on turtle rookery

Galeforce winds and high tides have destroyed turtle nests near Bundaberg. - ABC

Scientists say ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald has killed thousands of turtle eggs and hatchlings at one of Queensland's biggest rookeries.

The Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage says galeforce winds and high tides have destroyed turtle nests at Mon Repos near Bundaberg.

An estimated 46,000 eggs have been destroyed.

Chief scientist Col Limpus says the weather came at the worst time for the young turtles.

"Galeforce winds coming in on very high tides and so it's eroded the nesting habitat for the turtles," he said.

"We had the maximum number of clutches for the year because not that many had hatched and the end result we lost about 60 per cent of all of the clutches that were in the beach."


- ABC

© ABC 2013

More breaking news

ABC News
Sydney Morning Herald
National Nine News
News Limited

Red Centre rainfall whets appetite for more

15:56 EST Cattle stations south of Alice Springs are reporting large rainfalls on their properties.