DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Fibropapillomatosis has been detected in a large number of young turtles on the North Coast. Conservationists are alarmed, reports Marvin del Cid for Diario Libre.

Over the past week, seven juvenile green sea turtles were found stranded between Montecristi and Samaná, all suffering from fibropapillomatosis. Four of the turtles died, while three were rescued and taken to the National Aquarium.

Marvin del Cid explains that Fibropapillomatosis is a viral disease caused by the Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5), which manifests as wart-like tumors that can reach a severe size and gravely threaten the lives of the turtles. The growths, which can range in color from pink to black, often appear on soft tissue like the neck, flippers, and eyelids, and can even grow inside the turtle’s internal organs. These tumors can make it difficult for the turtles to swim, see, and...