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Tourists blamed for tragic turtle tale
Drunken British tourists and an excess of neon lights on a Greek island are being blamed for a major threat to a type of turtle. According to a report in The Guardian, British youths are “wrecking” one of the loggerhead sea turtle’s favourite breeding grounds on the island of Zakynthos. The newspaper reports that neon lights behind the island’s Laganas beach – along with somewhat dubious night-time beach activities on the part of some tourists – are providing a real threat to the animal. The European Commission has reportedly taken up the case and is “losing patience” with Greek authorities. The newspaper states: “Alarmed by the noises emanating from the beach, terrified pregnant turtles have started laying their eggs at sea, which means they cannot be hatched. Any eggs laid on the beach face a hopeless future as hatchlings mistake neon signs for moonlight – which is meant to guide them into the sea – and die in the sand as they head towards the strip.” Chris Davies, the Liberal Democrat MEP for the north west of England, who asked a written question in the European parliament, is quoted as saying: “The EU moves slowly and unless we get action fast there will be no loggerhead turtles to protect.” The Guardian states that the loggerhead sea turtle is one of the world’s oldest species, pre-dating dinosaurs. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
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