(JP)Surge in turtle deaths raises concern

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http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20011003b8.htm

 

WHAT'S KILLING THEM?

Surge in turtle deaths raises concern

 

OSAKA -- Twenty-three loggerhead turtles died and

drifted ashore along the coast of the Sea of Japan

this summer -- a higher number than usual -- the

Osaka-based Sea Turtle Association of Japan has

reported.

 

Further reports of dead turtles still requiring

confirmation could push the total number to 30, said

the association, which will report on the issue at the

Japan Sea turtle conference slated in November.

 

The cause of the deaths has yet to be confirmed, but

most of the carcasses were found near the shores of

Kashima, Ibaraki Prefecture, where many sea turtles

return to lay eggs every year.

 

Japan is the only place in the North Pacific Ocean

where the turtles nest. Loggerhead turtles spend their

early years along the west coast of North America, and

return to Japan's coast to lay eggs.

 

The dead turtles were discovered within the span of a

month.

 

On June 3 in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, a female sea

turtle was found dead. The turtle was carrying eggs.

 

On June 9 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, a turtle

whose head was almost reduced to a skeleton was found.

On July 10, in Ibaraki Prefecture, six dead turtles

were discovered. Among them were four females with no

external injuries. Sea urchins and hermit crabs were

found inside their stomachs.

 

On July 29, five more dead turtles were discovered in

the same town.

 

Meanwhile, four dead turtles were discovered in Iwaki,

Fukushima Prefecture, while three were found dead in

Shizuoka Prefecture.

 

The death toll had reached 23 in seven prefectures as

of the end of August, the association said.

 

Naoki Kamezaki, chairman of the association, said more

than 100 loggerhead turtles are found dead every year

in Japan, but the number found this year is

extraordinarily high, given the short period of time.

 

" It seems like many young turtles were found dead as

they returned to lay eggs. We need to find the cause

of their deaths. "

 

The Japan Times: Oct. 3, 2001

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