Wild Animals

Wild Sea Turtle Fibropapillomatosis

Fibropapillomatosis is an emerging disease of green sea turtles that causes debilitating tumor growth linked to environmental degradation.

Key Facts

Fibropapillomatosis affects primarily green sea turtles with rates up to 70% in some populations
Tumors can grow on eyes, flippers, and internal organs causing severe impairment
The disease is linked to coastal pollution and nutrient runoff from agriculture
Rehabilitation centers remove tumors surgically with varying long-term success rates

Welfare Considerations

Turtles with advanced fibropapillomatosis suffer from impaired vision, movement, and feeding. Internal tumors cause organ failure in severe cases. The environmental drivers of the disease — coastal pollution and nutrient loading — reflect land-use choices that create welfare consequences for entire sea turtle populations.

What You Can Do

Support coastal water quality monitoring and pollution reduction programs
Donate to sea turtle rehabilitation centers treating fibropapillomatosis cases
Advocate for agricultural buffer zones that reduce nutrient runoff into coastal waters
Engage with marine conservation organizations working on fibropapillomatosis research