Home Topics Wildlife Rare albino green turtle spotted on the Great Barrier Reef

Rare albino green turtle spotted on the Great Barrier Reef

Image credit: Jessica Buckman

Earlier this week, an albino turtle was spotted on Lady Elliot Island by Jessica Buckman of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort.

“Still having ‘wow’ moments over my little albino friend,” Jessica wrote on Instagram. “Camouflaged nicely into the white sandy beach as it ran to the waters edge.”

Related: Stunning photographs of the Great Barrier Reef’s pink manta ray

The Lady Elliot Eco Resort says the cause of the colouration is a lack of melanin in the turtle hatchlings system.

“Albino turtle hatchlings are seen from time to time but it is extremely rare to see an adult albino turtle.

“Current estimates of survivorship of hatchlings maturing to adulthood are about one in 1,000.

“Unfortunately, the success rate of this little one is also further reduced due to low sight and the inability to camouflage.”

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