🐢 Sea turtles in Brazil become healthier as water quality improves

• Sea turtles in Guanabara Bay show better health after cleaning efforts.
• A tumor disease in turtles has decreased since 2023.
• Investments of over 300 million dollars have been made to clean the water in the area.

Improved health in sea turtles

Sea turtles in Guanabara Bay off Rio de Janeiro are showing signs of improved health. For several years, these animals have struggled with a tumor disease that affects their mobility, vision, and ability to eat. In the worst case, the disease can lead to death, Reuters reports.

Scientists now report that the turtles' health has improved after authorities have taken measures to clean the water in the natural harbor.

Research has shown that fibropapillomatosis, a benign tumor disease in sea turtles, is linked to both a virus and environmental factors.

Kassia Coelho, professor of veterinary pathological anatomy at Federal Fluminense University, says that samples taken from the animals and the water indicate a much healthier environment.

"It's about analyzing health by collecting blood and tumors from these turtles, and also biometrics of the animals, seeing their growth over the years and monitoring these animals from one year to the next," Coelho explains. Many of these turtles are recaptured and we can assess whether they've grown, whether they're heavier, whether they've lost weight, whether they have more tumors or fewer tumors."

Previous environmental problems in Guanabara Bay

Guanabara Bay, surrounded by a densely populated urban environment, was previously an important site for marine life. Over the years, the bay has suffered from sewage and other waste being dumped there. In 2022, researchers discovered that three-quarters of the sea turtles in the area carried tumors.

Gustavo Baila, oceanographer and professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande, reports that sea turtles have been healthier since 2023.

"These are very important species for marine conservation," says Baila. "We had observed a high incidence of sea turtles with tumors, with deformities that ended up being very serious for the development of these animals."

Alexandre Bianchini, vice president of the Brazilian water and sewage treatment company Aegea, says that about 2 billion reais (equivalent to over 350 million dollars) have been invested in cleaning the water in the area.

"Now, nature responds," says Bianchini.

Brazil home to several turtle species

Brazil is home to five of the seven species of sea turtles that exist in the world. Their natural habitat is sometimes severely impacted by human activity. Conservationists have called for stricter measures to protect these animals.

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