When one of these vibrant sea turtles turn up dead on a beach, field necropsies can discover the true cause of death, which will help with conservation efforts. Worldwide, six of the seven sea turtle species are classified as threatened or endangered due to human actions and lifestyles. — 123rf
THE group of people gather around the corpse on the table, their scalpels poised to make that first cut, their curiosity pricked.
As the sharp edge digs into the flesh releasing a putrid gush of liquid, the men and women lean in closer.
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Learning about sea turtle deaths
Participants at the necropsy workshop quickly overcame any nausea or ‘ickiness’ as they strove to discover what had killed their subject. — Fuze Ecoteer
Please credit Fuze Ecoteer.
A member of the Redang Marine Conservation Group disentangling a turtle from a ghost net. Such abandoned nets can trap and starve marine animals to death and are a common killer of sea turtles. — RMCG
Concept photo of a sea turtle swimming among pieces of plastic. This is an increasingly common cause of turtle deaths, as plastic looks a lot like the jellyfish that they eat. Turtles have been found dead with bellies full of indigestible plastic. — 123rf
Learning the finer points of a necropsy at the workshop. — Fuze Ecoteer
Please credit Fuze Ecoteer.
One participant says the workshop is helping her gain 'a deeper understanding of the causes of sea turtle mortality, whether this be due to natural factors or threats such as pollution, habitat encroachment, disease, or boat collisions'. — Fuze Ecoteer
Please credit Fuze Ecoteer.
