With millions of people in Rio de Janeiro in lockdown, the city’s turtles have re-emerged in Guanabara Bay. But the bay is filled with plastic garbage that could kill the animals.
One loggerhead sea turtle was spotted bobbing its head amongst the plastic trash that lines the marvelous city’s shoreline on Tuesday, highlighting Rio’s environmental problems.
The main source of marine debris in Rio de Janeiro is humanmade, and the pandemic hasn’t stopped waves of garbage affecting the bay daily.
Although these turtles are now being seen closer to shore, biologists warn that the city’s negative impact on the local environment still remains unresolved.
Mario Moscatelli, a local biologist, said: “This spectacle ends with the end of the quarantine. These images of them are harsh because these beautiful animals end up confusing rubbish, plastic garbage with food. This can lead to death since the plastic obstructs their digestive tract and the animal dies.”
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