Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) are recovering in some regions while declining in others, with climate change feminizing populations, fibropapillomatosis causing disease, and fishing gear bycatch causing ongoing mortality.
Loggerhead turtles with fibropapillomatosis develop large tumor growths on flippers, eyes, and mouth that progressively impair their ability to swim, see, and feed. Advanced cases involve tumors covering eyes and internal organs, causing severe debilitation before death. Turtles caught in longline hooks experience physical trauma from the hook and days of exhaustion from attempting to escape before the line is checked. Beach sand temperature changes from climate warming are creating a long-term welfare problem through sex ratio skew — populations increasingly female-dominated eventually face reproductive failure. The welfare and conservation trajectory of loggerhead turtles is directly tied to fishing bycatch reduction, climate action, and beach habitat protection decisions.