Nearly every sea turtle born on the beaches of Florida in the past four years
has been female, according to scientists.
The spike in female baby turtles comes as a result of intense heatwaves
triggered by a growing climate crisis that is significantly warming up the
sands on some beaches, as CNN reported this week.
According to the National Ocean Service, if a turtle’s eggs incubate below
27C (82F), the turtle hatchlings will be male. If the eggs incubate above 31C
(89F), the hatchlings will be female. Temperatures that waver between the
two extremes will result in a mix of male and female baby turtles.
“As the Earth experienced climate change, increased temperatures could result
in skewed and even lethal incubation conditions, which would impact turtle
species and other reptiles,” the National Ocean Service said.
In addition to facing an increasing number of female turtles, the Sea Turtle
Hospital is also currently working to address fibropapillomatosis, a potentially
deadly disease among sea turtles that causes cauliflower-like tumors to develop
on the body including the eyes and mouth. The tumors could also form in internal organs.
“The Turtle Hospital was the first. But, sadly … there’s a need all throughout Florida,
” Zirkelbach said in regard to a growing need for more rehabilitation centers
across the state.