ASSISTING IN EFFORTS TO MONITOR AND TRACK TUMOR GROWTH IN SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS ON THE ISLAND.

There has been a recent outbreak in Curacao of Fibropapillomatosis (FP), a tumor-causing disease affecting green sea turtles, a major threat to their survival. STCC is currently raising funds to research foraging behaviors and preferred feeding grounds to determine the source of FP in curacao. Though the pathogenesis and epidemiology of FP in marine sea turtles is poorly understood, primary factors are believed to be changing water temperatures, environmental pollutants, and bacteria present in the turtles’ habitats. Currently, there is no cure for this disease. The best way to prevent it from spreading is to reduce our pollution into the oceans!