A rare leatherback turtle found dead off the Ċirkewwa coast died from pneumonia, though its health had been weakened by ingested plastics, the environment watchdog said on Friday.
Weighing 190 kilogrammes, this rare specimen, 1.85 metres long, was first spotted last Thursday at about midday floating between Ras il-Qala and Taħt it-Trunċiera off the coast of Qala.
Leatherbacks are the largest sea turtle species and among the heaviest modern reptiles globally. They can weigh as much as 900 kilos and do not have a hard outer shell but a carapace that is elongated and covered by skin and oily flesh, which is what gave the turtle its name.
The dead turtle, found entangled in fishing nets, was recovered by the Armed Forces of Malta in a joint operation with the Environment and Resources Authority and the Civil Protection Department. It was then taken to the Ċirkewwa quay before further examination to find the cause of death.
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The ERA said on Friday that a necropsy carried out by Anthony Gruppetta on behalf of Nature Trust Malta showed the turtle had died of pneumonia that developed into a generalised inflammation.
