News
Mysterious deaths of sea turtle
View(s):
Story and pix by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi
Wildlife officers are concerned over the mysterious deaths of sea turtle along the country’s southern coast.
Sea turtles are a protected species, yet carcasses of several have washed up along the beaches in Tangalle and Hambantota. Wildlife officers also discovered a dead dolphin washed up on a beach in Tangalle.
The carcasses of three dead sea turtle were found over the past several days.
They belonged to two distinct species of turtle, but didn’t exhibit any outward sign of injury. The carcasses were sent to the veterinarian of the Udawalawa Elephant Transit Home for post-mortem examinations.
Wildlife officers say there is a possibility that the turtles may have got entangled in nets laid by fishermen at the bottom of the sea to catch manta rays.
Investigations are ongoing.
No obvious cause of death was visible
Meanwhile Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) officials said many sea turtle come ashore along the Hambantota coast these days to lay eggs.
Officials said to protect the eggs they have had to increase beach patrols to protect them from persons engaged in stealing eggs. In addition officials said they had to also contend with herds of wild boar who eat turtle eggs.
Officers have had to increase patrols to save turtle eggs from both humans and animals
This dead dolphin washed ashore at Tangalle
The dead turtle bore no signs of external injury
Two distinct varieties found washed up, had conservationists worried
Three carcasses of sea turtle were found along the southern coast over the past few days