Turtles ‘Covered In Black Tar’ After Oil Spill Hits Brazil’s Northeast Coast

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There has been five cases of turtles covered in tar - Media Credit: Instituto Verdeluz / Instagram

Sea turtles have been reportedly found ‘covered in black tar’ after an oil spill as hit the northeast coast of Brazil

Officials are investigating into the oil spill, which has covered dozens of beaches after it was found the oil was not produced in Brazil. 

The spill stretches 1,500 kilometers and has affected more than 40 cities. It was first detected on September 2. 

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Nas últimas semanas recebemos relatos de derrames de piche em algumas praias do Piauí, do Ceará, do Rio Grande do Norte e de Pernambuco. ? Nos últimos dias temos sido contatados por diferentes ocorrências de encalhe de tartarugas marinhas com resquícios de contato com piche. A primeira ocorrência aconteceu em Sabiaguaba no início do mês de setembro. No último final de semana fomos alertados por moradores do Serviluz que também encontraram uma tartaruga nessa condição. Ainda foram somadas à esse casos em Flecheiras, Taíba e Jericoacora. ? Ao todo já foram cinco encalhes, dos quais tivemos conhecimento, de tartarugas encontradas com piche em setembro no estado do Ceará. Tem sido desesperador encontrar esses animais nesse estado. O sentimento de impotência em relação a essas enormes manchas de piche no litoral é assustador e é preciso que alguma posição do poder público seja tomada. ? Lembrem-se que em casos de ocorrências de tartarugas marinhas (vivas ou mortas) entrem em contato conosco através do número (85)98597-3007 (Projeto Gtar) e/ou através do nosso direct. É importante também que nenhuma ação seja tomada antes da chegada da nossa equipe.

A post shared by Instituto Verdeluz (@institutoverdeluz) on

‘We’ve never had an accident like this’ 

According to the BBC, Fernanda Pirillo, Co-ordinator of Ibama (the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) told Brazilian news outlets: “We’ve never had an accident like this in Brazil.

“It’s the first time we’re seeing an accident with an undetermined source affecting so many states.”

‘Powerlessness’

Instituto Verdeluz, whose mission is ‘reconnecting people with nature’ posted pictures of a ‘tar-toise’ after receiving an alert from residents of Serviluz. 

“In all, there have already been five strandings, of which we were aware, of tar-tortoises found in September in the state of Ceará,” the organization wrote on Instagram. 

“It has been [difficult] to find these animals in this state. The feeling of powerlessness over these huge tar patches on the coast is frightening and some public power position must be taken.”

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