Three people have died, and at least 32 others were admitted to hospital in the Philippines after consuming a stew made from an endangered sea turtle.
The dish, prepared last week in a seaside town in Maguindanao del Norte Province, caused dozens of indigenous Teduray villagers to suffer symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps, according to local officials.
Although hunting or eating sea turtles is prohibited under the country’s environmental laws, these marine animals remain a traditional delicacy in some communities.
However, sea turtles that consume contaminated algae can become toxic to humans, even if they appear healthy. Irene Dillo, a local official said that some dogs, cats, and chickens fed portions of the same sea turtle also died. She confirmed that an investigation into the deaths is underway.
The sea turtle was prepared as adobo, a well-loved Filipino dish made with meat or vegetables cooked in vinegar and soy sauce.
Residents of Datu Blah Sinsuat, a coastal town known for its clear waters and white sandy beaches, often depend on the sea for their food. “It was unfortunate because there is so much other seafood in their village—lobsters, fish,” Ms Dillo said.
Most of those who were hospitalised have since been discharged, according to local media, while the three victims were buried immediately in line with cultural traditions.
Datu Mohamad Sinsuat Jr, a councillor in the region, has urged local officials to strictly enforce the ban on hunting sea turtles. He pledged, “this food poisoning incident will never happen again.”
Sea turtles are listed as endangered species, and it is illegal in the Philippines to capture, harm, or kill them. Despite this, they are still hunted in some cultures for their meat and eggs, which are thought to have medicinal properties.
A similar incident occurred in 2013 when 68 people in Eastern Samar Province fell ill after consuming a sea turtle, with four fatalities reported.
(BBC)
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