Ocean Sentry
(From themolokaidispatch.com)- A dead sea turtle was found on the beach near the wharf last Monday. Department of Land and Natural Recourses (DLNR) biologist Bill Puleloa came to bury the turtle. The cause of its death is unknown. A virus epidemic known as Fibropapillomas, a variant of herpes, used to be a frequent cause of death among sea turtles, says Puleloa. The virus causes tumors in affected animals, often growing on their flippers or spreading into their mouth and throat. But the virus is on the decline now, and Puleloa says death caused by the virus is usually obvious. LNR has done a series of tagging projects to keep track of sea turtles from Molokai. Tagged turtles have been found as far as the Philippines and the Marshall Islands, which means a journey of up to 5,000 miles.
If you find a dead sea turtle, do not move or touch it but call the DLNR at 808-587-0077.
(By By Catherine Cluett)
