Turtles Covered in Herpes Tumors Are Washing up on Shore in Australia
Well, here's some super-sad news to wrap up your Wednesday.
The New Scientist reports that an increasing number of majestic AF green sea turtles on Australia's Great Barrier Reef have herpes and it's killing them. (I am legit making the frowny face emoji right now.)
Researches believe the turtle-specific herpesvirus that causes fibropapillomatosis - a condition in which disfiguring tumors grow on the eyes, flippers, tail, shell, or internal organs - is caused by pollution and other environmental destruction.
"We see these tumors in turtles in very localized hotspots around the world where there is heavy human activity," says Karina Jones of James Cook University in Townsville, Australia, told New Scientist.
Good job, humans!
The tumors themselves are not deadly, but they can have deadly ramifications.
"The tumors are benign but can grow up to 30 centimeters in size and block the turtles' vision," Jones said. "This means they can't find food or see predators or boats."
Even scarier, the tumors makes them vulnerable to other infections. "Severely affected turtles are quite skinny and have other pathogens affecting them - that's why they die."
Right now, Jones and her team are trying to figure out exactly what's going on by researching water quality data and testing water samples for a range of chemicals, including heavy metals and fertilizer and pesticide components.
Watch the video below to see images of the turtles and then maybe cry forever, donate all your worldly possessions to the Sea Turtle Foundation, and then move to the top of a very tall mountain so you never have to deal with humans ever again.
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