- EDITIONS:
Spanish News Today
Alicante Today
Andalucia Today
PROPERTY SEARCH
Dead loggerhead turtle found on Rincón de la Victoria beach
Experts believe the animal had been dead for some time before recent storms carried it ashore
A dead loggerhead turtle was found on the beach at Rincón de la Victoria, in Málaga, on Monday, in front of the Casa Fuerte Bezmiliana monument on Avenida del Mediterráneo.The Ayuntamiento confirmed that the animal was collected at around midday on Monday October 5. Experts who examined the turtle believe it had been dead for some time before washing up on the shore.
The turtle was a loggerhead, or Caretta caretta, a species classed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.
Juan Jesús Martín, a biologist and coordinator of the University of Málaga’s Master’s Programme in Environmental Education for Sustainability, said the turtle was clearly swollen.
“It’s clearly very swollen, indicating it’s been dead for a while,” he said, adding that its neck “doesn’t appear normal.”
He believes recent storms may have carried the animal to the beach after it died. Strandings have been recorded along Malaga’s coastline in recent years, he explained, and are more likely during autumn and winter when stormier conditions can bring turtles ashore.
Veterinarian Juan José Castillo, who specialises in marine mammals and turtles, described the specimen as decomposed and said it may have been dead for around a week. He explained that it was likely swollen after floating in the water, while the skin around its neck had peeled away.
Biologist José Luis Mons said a large wound on the turtle’s neck could have been caused by a bite or fishing line, although the cause of death has not been confirmed. He noted that the main threats facing sea turtles include “plastics, fishing nets and bycatch.”
Turtles can also be injured in collisions with boats, particularly if they are ill and unable to dive or move away quickly. Entanglement in nets can prevent them from reaching the surface to breathe, while plastic bags can be mistaken for food and swallowed.
Martín said that when a turtle is found, the 112 emergency service should be contacted so it can be collected and the cause of death investigated through a necropsy. In this case, he said, the animal’s condition could make that difficult.
In a happier incident, an injured sea turtle was rescued from a beach in Torrevieja, at the end of last month, offering a reminder that quick action can give these vulnerable animals a chance of recovery.
These two very different outcomes underline why it is so important to report a turtle sighting or stranding without delay. A quick call to 112 can give an injured animal the best possible chance of being rescued, while helping experts assess and record cases where a turtle has sadly already died.
Image: wikicommons
staff.inc.ali
See more news about animals in Spain:
OR
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin to get a comprehensive email with all the week’s news for Spain, Murcia, Alicante and Andalucía.
Get a sneak peek – here are a few of our recent Subscription Bulletins:
Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
