SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 31 Aug. (EUROPE PRESS) –
All the turtle specimens treated at the La Tahonilla Wildlife Recovery Center have ingested plastic throughout their lives and this is evidenced by the presence of this material in their feces collected while they are in the center, as well as in the recovery pool filters.
“Contamination by microplastics is a serious problem that affects the waters of the seas around the world”, has indicated the Councilor for Management of the Natural Environment of the Cabildo, Isabel García, who has added that “in La Tahonilla it is evident the presence of these materials since the turtles that are recovered in the center are often affected by entanglement of nets or bags and, as is the case, pieces of plastic in their digestive system, for which society must be extremely careful in the management of waste, especially in a territory so close to the sea”.
The center’s veterinarian, Alejandro Suárez, highlights that in a note that “sea turtles are one of the species most affected by plastic pollution in their natural habitat, since this material is often confused with food such as algae and jellyfish.”
Thus, “it has been determined that the probability of dying of a turtle that ingests a piece of plastic increases by 20% and, the more it eats, the more it increases,” he indicates.
In the center, dependent on the Natural Environment Management area of the Cabildo, veterinary care is provided to specimens of sea turtles affected by various pathologies.
Traces of microplastics continue to be found in the pool filters of the center’s facilities, where the turtles are periodically rehabilitated, proof of their constant intake in their natural environment.
The veterinarian points out that “due to the continuous intake of microplastics, the gastrointestinal microbiota of animals is altered, which alters their digestion and causes them to accumulate gas, causing buoyancy problems in the sea, which makes them unable to continue feeding.”
These plastics are composed of different substances, among which can be found toxic, which affect turtles in various ways.
Likewise, the consumption of macroplastics also alters digestion and produces physical changes in the digestive system of this species, and an example of this is the case of a loggerhead sea turtle that entered the recovery center with traces of nylon in its rectal opening.
