Two-Headed Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Born in Costa Rica; Photo

[kpete]

Two-Headed Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Born in Costa Rica; Photo Available
12/1/2005 4:20:00 PM

To: National Desk, Environment Reporter, Photo Editor



OSTIONAL, Costa Rica, Dec. 1 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A two-headed olive ridley sea turtle was born on a beach in Ostional, Costa Rica, Nov. 20. Observed for a week in an aquarium before being released into the sea, the hatchling appeared to be in good health, with both heads and all four extremities capable of a normal range of movements, said Carlos Drews, a marine turtle expert with World Wildlife Fund. While the cause of the deformity is unknown, Drews said suspected factors include toxic contamination from agricultural and industrial waste and climate change, which can cause "drastic modifications to the incubation environment in sea turtle nests." Olive ridley turtles are endangered. Ostional is one of only three major nesting sites left to them in the world.
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=57493