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In the Philippines, eating an endangered sea turtle stew resulted in three fatalities and at least thirty-two hospitalizations, according to local officials.
Datu Blah Sinsuat, a seaside hamlet in the Maguindanao del Norte province, was the scene of the event last Saturday.
Shortly after eating the turtle that a fisherman had caught and prepared, the victims, who were members of the Indigenous Teduray group, began exhibiting symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort, according to the Philippines Daily Inquirer.
The marine turtle may have become poisonous after eating tainted algae, according to authorities. According to local official Irene Dillo, several pet dogs, cats, and chickens.
Who were given the turtle meat also perished. “The cause of the deaths is still being investigated by authorities,” she told the BBC.
According to reports, the sea turtle was prepared as adobo, a Filipino meal made by simmering meat or vegetables in soy sauce and vinegar.
Seafood is a staple cuisine for the people who live in the coastal town. Ms. Dillo expressed her disappointment at the occurrence, saying.
“It was unfortunate because there is so much other seafood in their village – lobsters, fish.” Although killing and eating sea turtles is illegal in the Philippines due to environmental protection legislation, certain tribes nevertheless engage.
In the activity because the meat is prized as a delicacy or is thought to have therapeutic benefits. Local councillor Datu Mohamad Sinsuat Jr. demanded that the hunting restriction in the region be enforced more strictly.
He declared, “This food poisoning incident will never happen again.” The majority of individuals admitted to the hospital have subsequently been released.
A similar occurrence occurred in the Eastern Samar region in 2013, where eating a marine turtle resulted in four fatalities and 68 illnesses.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature, which is committed to protecting the environment and encouraging the sustainable use of natural resources, has designated the sea turtle as endangered.
Additionally, it is safeguarded by the Washington Convention, also known as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Philippine law also makes hunting turtles illegal, although these safeguards are undermined by customs and lax enforcement.