Three dead, dozens hospitalized after eating endangered sea turtle

Three people have died, and 32 others were hospitalized in the Philippines after consuming stew made from an endangered sea turtle, officials reported.

The incident occurred in a coastal town in Maguindanao del Norte Province, where members of the indigenous Teduray community began experiencing severe symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal spasms shortly after eating the dish.

While hunting and consuming sea turtles is prohibited under the Philippines' environmental protection laws, these marine creatures are still regarded as a delicacy in certain communities.

Eating sea turtle meat, particularly its organs, can be highly dangerous and even fatal. These animals often harbor toxins like chelonitoxin, a naturally occurring biotoxin thought to originate from poisonous algae consumed by the turtles, according to the Turtle Foundation charity. Exposure to this toxin can cause severe poisoning symptoms, including difficulty breathing, nausea, and in extreme cases, death.

Local official Irene Dillo reported that dogs, cats, and chickens who were fed the same sea turtle meat also died. Authorities are now investigating the incident to confirm the exact cause of the poisonings.

Although most of the affected individuals have since been discharged from the hospital, the three victims who died were buried immediately in accordance with local customs. Councilor Datu Mohamad Sinsuat Jr. has called for stricter enforcement of the hunting ban on sea turtles, vowing, “This food poisoning incident will never happen again.”

This tragic case is not isolated. Earlier this year, similar poisoning incidents were reported on Pemba Island in Zanzibar, where nine people, including eight children, died after consuming sea turtle meat. Another 78 were hospitalized. Other incidents have been documented in Indonesia, Micronesia, and India's Indian Ocean islands, with no known antidote for the poisoning.