Scientists from Bangladesh examine the cause of the death of over 80 olive turtles. Dead reptiles were found on the beach during the last week – the Government Institute of Maritime Research said on Thursday.
Olive turtles (Lepidochelys Olivacea) belong to the family of sea turtles (Cheloniidae) and are its smallest representatives. This species occurs in the Atlantic, Indian and calm ocean. In recent years, their numbers have been decreasing because it has been intensively hunted because of eggs and meat.
Within three days, from last Saturday to Monday, a total of over 77 dead representatives of this species were found off the coast of Bangladesh. Throughout the month of dead turtles, 88 were found, including in the city of Koks Trieźar. Researchers are trying to find the cause of the mass death of reptiles.
Mass death of the turtle
Mohammad Shimul Bhuiyan from the Bangladeski Institute of Maritime Research said in an interview with the AFP agency that over 80 percent of dead turtles are females that were to lay eggs on the beach. From November to March, the breeding season is underway. At that time, females cover thousands of kilometers to lay eggs on the beach. – We need more time to determine the cause of their death – said the researcher.
Sharif Uddin, a scientist from the Malaysian organization of Worldfish dealing with maritime research, believes that the mass death of turtles is associated with the overcoming and use of permanent networks. “Turtles flow to the surface to take air, but when they get wild in the fishing network, they stay under water for too long and suffocate,” said Uddin. “It is tragic that they come here to reproduce and ultimately die,” he added.
Abid Hossain from the Bangladesh Sea Fisheries Association said that the disturbance of the population of turtles threatens serious damage to local maritime ecology. – Last year, sea half decreased by half due to the increase in the number of jellyfish in sea water – said AFP. – Turtles eat jellyfish that help survive fish larvae. If we want to keep our fish resources, we must save turtles – he added.
Olive turtle (Lepidochelys Olivacea) – illustrative photoAdobe Stock
AFP, dainikazadi.net, tbsnews
Source of the main photo: Adobe Stock