Endangered Galapagos giant tortoises continue to swallow plastic and other human waste despite a ban on single-use plastic items in the Ecuadorian archipelago since 2015, according to a study published Wednesday.
Turtles of the species Chelonoidis porteri on Santa Cruz Island “ingest plastic in and around urban areas,” according to this study by the Charles Darwin Foundation (FCD), which is dedicated to scientific research and conservation efforts in the Galapagos Islands. most populous (15,000 inhabitants) archipelago in the Pacific Ocean.
AFP
This species is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
AFP
The FCD collected 5,500 fecal samples in areas where turtles come into contact with human activities and found 597 pieces of debris of human origin (86% plastic, but also glass, metal, paper, cardboard and fabric). In contrast, only two pieces of debris were discovered in the 1,000 samples taken from protected areas in the Galapagos National Park.
“Giant tortoises can take up to 28 days to digest their food. “We are therefore concerned about the impact that the ingestion of inorganic waste can have on their health,” emphasizes the study’s lead author, Karina Ramon, pointing to the risk of intestinal blockages, injuries and hormonal changes due to chemical components.
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Since 2015, the use of single-use plastic items such as straws and bags has been banned in the Galapagos Islands. However, in practice, the consumption of this type of objects remains high in the archipelago, whose population has increased significantly in recent decades and which receives many tourists.
The study “shows that the protected areas of the national park are essential for the well-being of endemic species,” emphasized Professor Santiago Ron, co-author of the document.
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Of the 15 giant tortoise species that once lived in the Galapagos Islands, three have become extinct in recent centuries.
The archipelago with its fragile ecosystem, a thousand kilometers from the South American continent, inspired the British naturalist Charles Darwin (1809-1882) to develop his famous theory of the evolution of species.