Dead turtles dumped by road

The remains of three giant sea turtles have been found dumped by the side of a road. Electrical tester John Henderson, 48, said the animals looked as though they had been shot. All three seemed to have been stripped of meat, although one still had its head. The carapaces were left behind.

“I was disgusted,” Mr Henderson said.

“The turtles have been killed and then left.”

The find has been reported to Parks and Wildlife.

Under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, killing – or even possessing – a protected animal such as a sea turtle can invoke a fine of up to $55,000.

But indigenous hunters are exempted from the law, which says: “Nothing in or under this Act limits the right of Aborigines who have traditionally used an area of land or water from continuing to use that area in accordance with Aboriginal tradition for hunting, food gathering (otherwise than for the purpose of sale) and for ceremonial and religious purposes.”

The law does not specify whether it is legal to shoot turtles, rather than catch them in the traditional way.

The public can report any incidents on 1800 453 941.

(From ntnews.com.au, Australia, by Nigel Adlam)