Mystery illness killing Olive Ridley turtles in Guatemala

Olive Ridley turtles found dieing off the coast of Guatemala

Olive Ridley turtles stranding in Guatemala
May 2011. There have been an unusually high number of strandings of vulnerable (IUCN red list) Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) turtles on the Pacific coast of Guatemala (Department of Santa Rosa) Since 1st May 2011. 32 sea turtles (dead and alive) have stranded within approximately 8 kilometres of the coast all severely debilitated by a mystery illness. Local conservationists have made several trips out to sea searching for live debilitated turtles in attempt to bring them back to shore and rehabilitate them. Of 17 live turtles rescued, only 3 remain alive.

Staff from Akazul have been going to sea on small (dory type) fishing boats with local fishermen and surveying approximately 20km from the shore by driving parallel to the coast in order to search for sea turtles floating on the surface; if they are unable to dive in avoidance this indicates that they are sick. They have brought in 14 of the turtles using this method, the remaining 18 have been found stranded on beaches, 3 live & 15 dead.

Post-mortems

Post-mortems have shown that all the animals have suffered from emaciation/starvation, cachexia (body wasting syndrome), enlarged livers, emphysema in the lungs, and pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium sac surrounding the heart). However, the cause of this trauma is still yet to be ascertained and appears to only be affecting one species of sea turtles.

There have also been similar reports of this mystery sea turtle illness in other Central American countries in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP).

AKAZUL - Community, Conservation, and Ecology is a grass-roots initiative focused on preserving the natural resources of Guatemala's marine and coastal environments through community based activities. Population growth and economic needs are increasing the pressures on coastal ecosystems, and biodiversity is becoming threatened. Akazul is working together with community members to help secure a more sustainable and prosperous future for all coastal life.