Qld: Endangered turtle found butchered

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2001
Qld: Endangered turtle found butchered

An old, endangered Loggerhead turtle has been found apparently butchered at a beach
north of Townsville.

Locals say the remains of the large adult was discovered at the weekend on a boat ramp
at Saunders Beach, with the top half of the shell removed along with all the meat.

They say the animal doesn't look like it's died from disease or been hit by a boat
propeller before it was butchered.

Loggerhead turtles are classified as endangered in Queensland.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority says the turtles have lost between 50
and 80 per cent of their annual nesting population in the past decade.

It says an annual loss of only a few loggerhead turtles could result in the extinction
of the Queensland population.

AAP RTV jb/jhm/tb/rp

KEYWORD: TURTLE (TOWNSVILLE)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.