Two turtles found dead within days of each other
TWO large turtles have been found dead on the beaches of North Cyprus within days of each other.
On Tuesday a resident in Boğaz, İskele, told Cyprus Today of her dismay after discovering a turtle that had “stab wounds” around its neck
Sinem Şişman, who reported the incident to the North Cyprus Society for the Protection of Turtles (Spot), said she had “deep concerns” about marine pollution and the effect that the number of villas built by the beach are having on turtles.
“These houses are placed less than 100 metres away from the shore line,” she said.
“Lights have been placed on
trees for paths for tourists and people nearby, however this has confused turtles . . . as they use moonlight to guide their way back to the sea.
“Today I have found a large sea turtle dead by the beach, probably killed by humans as it had stab wounds around its neck.
“I have reported it to Spot . . . They have said they found over 10 dead sea turtles on this beach for the past year, most of which were ready to lay eggs . . .
“People need to be more responsible, whether it starts by whoever gives planning permission to these villas by the beach, or to the people who have placed lights so close to the sand.”
Spot’s Robin Snape said that turtles had been found at the same beach last year with “injuries consistent with dog attacks” but there were suspicions the turtles may have already been dead.
Three additional incidents have been reported this year, all “adult nesting females with eggs”.
“Since we have not observed a case where a turtle has been found high on the beach, with turtle tracks in the sand to indicate that it emerged from the sea of its own accord to nest, we cannot conclude that the cause of death is the dogs themselves, as it not very likely that the dogs would be that efficient, that they could catch the turtles in the surf as they approach the beach, and hold them onshore,” he said.
“The more likely scenario is that the turtles are dying at sea, possibly being killed as a retaliatory response of fishers that use the very near shore area. Such large specimens can cause costly damage to their fishing nets.”
The removal of stray dogs “from the equation” would help in identifying those responsible for the deaths more confidently, Dr Snape added.
He said Spot is in ongoing talks with fishers, the coastguard and the police for a further investigation.
Mediterranean monk seals have been identified as the culprits of similar injuries in Greece and their numbers have recently increased in the region.
“In the cases we have observed though, the attacks have all been from the dorsal surfaces, which is more consistent with dogs predating them once they have come onto the beach either dead or alive,” Dr Snape said whereas Mediterranean monk seals tend to focus on the ventral side of the animal. He urged people to call Spot on 1188 if they witness any harm done to sea turtles.
Meanwhile Tourism and Environment Minister Fikri Ataoğlu issued a statement after a dead loggerhead turtle was found by Coastguard teams in the Yedidalga area with a plastic bag wrapped around its neck.
“Despite the measures we have taken and the regulations, we are faced with the most obvious and saddest example of what plastic bags and similar waste that unaware and insensitive people throw out into nature can do to living things,” he said.
“Plastic bags and similar waste that we unconsciously toss out into nature, harm nature. It can be a murder weapon for other creatures with which we share nature.”