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 eat, severely impacting their ability to survive in the wild. In one of the rescued turtles, the tumors covered most of its head, blocking its eyes and impairing basic functions.
The disease is caused by marine leeches. The recent cluster of cases in the Dominican Republic confirms that the leeches are now in local waters.
The three turtles rescued alive are currently being stabilized at the National Aquarium. They arrived weak, with low blood values and covered in leeches. In the coming days, they will undergo surgery to remove the largest tumors, followed by a rehabilitation process that could last for months before they are ready to be released.
Omar Shamir Reynoso, the technical director of the National Aquarium, told Diario Libre that the institution is on high alert to respond to these events, provide rehabilitation, and ensure the best possible quality of life for the animals during their recovery.
The disease is not passed to humans.
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Diario Libre
8 September 2025