Disease linked to poor water quality affects island’s sea-turtle population (graphic)
St. Maarten Nature Foundation have recorded a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) with fibropapillomatosis (FP), a debilitating disease, during a dive. FP is a tumour forming disease that can greatly affect a turtle’s ability to swim, eat and evade predators. They primarily occur on the soft tissues of a turtle (flippers, eyes, skin). These tumours can vary in size, texture and colour (see photo) and can occur in every species of marine turtle.
Research points to a virus (herpesvirus) and some form of environmental degradation, such as pollution. Anything with the potential to inhibit a turtle’s immune system. This disease was lasted recorded in St. Maarten in 2010, where six endangered turtles died from the disease.
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Obituaries
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Miscellany
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Photo from Sea Turtle Conservation Curacao.
