Progressive quarantines around the globe, and the continued confinement of people in their homes, have created the ideal environment for animals to roam quietly through urban centers. If peacocks, wild boars and deer have already been spotted, now it’s sea turtles’ turn.
In the United States, specifically in the state of Florida, staff at the Loggerhead MarineLife Center found about 70 baula turtle nests – an endangered species – on a 14-kilometer stretch. According to the center, the number of nests represent a “significant” increase from last year.
Sea Turtle Conservancy CEO David Godfrey told CBS News that fewer people are sailing, the chances of these turtles dying from being hit by boats decrease.
“The intake of plastic waste is one of the main causes of injury in the species,” added Godfrey, who also said that the lower human presence reduces the amount of these waste on the beaches.
According to the Loggerhead MarineLife Center, one in a thousand baula turtle pups become adults. Most specimens that are entered into the center have microplastics inside.
Also in Thailand
A similar case also occurred in Thailand. This time 11 sea turtle nests were found on Phuket Island. According to the supervisor of the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, Kanokwan Homcha-ai, this is the largest number of nests found in the Asian country in 20 years.
Phuket Island, one of Thailand’s most popular tourist spots, is quarantined due to the spread of coronavirus.
“This can also have positive impacts on the environment on long-term marine conservation,” Homcha-ai said to CNN. “Not only sea turtles, but also other marine species such as dolphins and dugong living in the region have also increased in number according to a government survey, such as hermit crabs and other sources of marine animal feed.”
