Wildlife

Turtle herpes outbreak at Queensland Island, Australia

Two green sea turtles covered in tumours have washed ashore a bay off Magnetic Island in the past two weeks, victims of a crippling disease spreading through turtle populations.

The turtles were likely part of a larger group surveyed earlier this year just off West Point at Cockle Bay, where half of the green turtle population was found to have large tumours around their heads, eyes and shoulders.

Unpublished results have found the tumours are likely caused by fibropapillomatosis, a disease triggered by a turtle-specific herpesvirus that affects sea turtles across the world likely caused by pollution.

The tumours can grow up to 30 centimetres and while they are benign, they can leave turtles susceptible to other causes of death.