A turtle expedition to Kuwait and Oman – University of Copenhagen

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A turtle expedition to Kuwait and Oman

PhD-student Alonzo Alfaro-Nunes from Centre for GeoGenetics was invited by local scientists to join them for field work. Follow his hot narrative!

Oman, June - 2011

Most of the turtles encountered were carefully inspected searching for any sign of disease or tumours. In this case, the turtle was on its way back to the sea and we observed a type of tumour growing below the animal's head. That?s why it was needed to stop and immobilize the animal - to take the suspected tumour tissue sample.

Most of the turtles encountered were carefully inspected searching for any sign of disease or tumours. In this case, the turtle was on its way back to the sea and we observed a type of tumour growing below the animal's head. That’s why it was needed to stop and immobilize the animal - to take the suspected tumour tissue sample.

Collecting a tissue sample of a dead loggerhead turtle found early in the morning. If the animals take the wrong term and start crawling into the desert instead of going back to the sea, after sunrise sand temperatures rises up reaching 75C in few hours. Exhaustion and dehydration would kill any marine animal in no time.

Collecting a tissue sample of a dead loggerhead turtle found early in the morning. If the animals take the wrong term and start crawling into the desert instead of going back to the sea, after sunrise sand temperatures rises up reaching 75C in few hours. Exhaustion and dehydration would kill any marine animal in no time.

Tracks in Masirah island. The tracks get lost in the landscape as the beach connects immediately with the desert. Turtle tracks in Masirah island. The tracks get lost in the landscape as the beach connects immediately with the desert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Landscape in Masirah and where sea turtles come to nest in huge numbers at this time of the year.

Landscape in Masirah and where sea turtles come to nest in huge numbers at this time of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kuwait - May 2011:I have spent the last week on two small islands in the waters off Kuwait. The first Island is called Qaru and it's very tiny - only 200 m in diameter and 650 m in perimeter. So by now I know every single rock and coral reef around the island.

Carefully inspecting the animal searching for tumours or signs of the disease. Animal tumour free, tissue samples collected.

Carefully inspecting the animal searching for tumours or signs of the disease. Animal tumour free, tissue samples collected.

First view of Qaru Island on our arrival. We had a sand storm for two days.

First view of Qaru Island on our arrival. We had a sand storm for two days.

Unfortunately this has not been a good year as only four hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata) have come to nest, none of them with signs of the tumors or the fibro-papillomatosis disease. However, tissue samples were taken from each animal.

Later it will be analyzed in the lab to test for viral DNA in the animals in the latent stage.

Turtles tracks - first ones found in our first day.

Turtles tracks - first ones found in our first day.

I have two nights left in Kuwait before I will be going to Masirah, Oman. Here the loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) are nesting in great numbers at this time of the year.

Nesting Hawksbill turtle, full of barnacles but without parasites.

Nesting Hawksbill turtle, full of barnacles but without parasites.

 



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