A leatherback turtle that was discovered near death in Kenting National Park in July was killed by swallowed fishing lines, the Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) said on Wednesday.
The 130kg adolescent turtle, of a species that is rarely seen near Taiwan, was discovered on July 4 washed onto a beach at Wanlitong (萬里桐) in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township (恆春).
It was transferred to a rescue center for treatment, but died a day later.
Photo courtesy of a resident surnamed Hung
An autopsy discovered no food in its stomach and an abnormally twisted digestive tract, the OCA said.
An X-ray then revealed two fishing lines totaling 425cm in length that had apparently been there for some time, extending from the stomach to the large intestine, it said.
The line embedded into the intestinal lining, resulting in irritation and bleeding, and making it impossible for the turtle to digest food, it said.
Photo courtesy of the Ocean Conservation Administration
Lesions in the digestive tract eventually led to necrotizing enterocolitis and acute sepsis, the agency added.
Since discarded fishing lines often attach to other sea life, they are easily ingested by turtles, causing grievous harm, the OCA said.
Even after a turtle dies and decomposes, the fishing line could then go on to harm other sea creatures, it said, calling on fishers not to dispose of fishing lines in the ocean.
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