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After water quality enhances, researchers discover sea turtles in Brazil get healthier

Sea turtles in the Guanabara Bay of Rio de Janeiro are getting much healthier after struggling for many years with a growth disease that hampers their motion, sight and feeding, and eventually leads to their death.

Scientists stated it came after authorities made an effort to clean up the water of the natural harbor that shapes the identity of the area.

Research study has actually linked fibropapillomatosis, a benign growth in sea turtles, to both an infection and environmental elements.

Kassia Coelho, a professor of veterinary pathological anatomy at the Federal Fluminense University, stated samples taken from the animals and the water pointed to a much healthier environment.

It's about examining health by collecting blood and growths from these turtles, and likewise biometrics of the animals, seeing their growth throughout the years and keeping an eye on these animals from one year to the next, she stated.

Much of these turtles are recaptured and we can examine whether they have actually grown, whether they're much heavier, whether they have actually. slimmed down, whether they have more tumors or fewer tumors.

Surrounded by a dense metropolitan population, Guanabara Bay was. as soon as a nursery for marine life but has more than the years suffered. from sewage and other garbage being discarded there.

In 2022, scientists discovered that three quarters of sea turtles. there were carrying the tumors.

While research study is still continuous, Gustavo Baila, an. oceanographer and teacher at the Federal University of Rio. Grande, stated sea turtles have been healthier since 2023.

These are extremely crucial types for marine preservation,. he stated. We had actually observed a high incidence of sea turtles with. tumors, with defects that wound up being really serious for. the development of these animals.

Brazil is home to five of the 7 species of sea turtles. that exist worldwide. However, their natural environment is. often significantly impacted by humans. Conservationists have. called for stricter measures to protect these animals.

Alexandre Bianchini, a vice president at Brazilian water and. sewage treatment company Aegea, said some 2 billion reais. ($ 356.42 million) had actually been invested into cleaning up the water. in the location. Now, nature responds, he stated.

(source: Reuters)