ECOCLUB Monitoring™

It seems that even after the pandemic, 'exotic' wild animal meat is still sold and consumed despite various associated risks. The only way to avoid the rare but potentially deadly condition known as  Chelonitoxism is not to consume sea turtle meat, but this is exactly what a woman and eight children did on the small island of Panza near Pemba island, part of the Zanzibar archipelago of Tanzania, subsequently dying from poisoning, while 78 people are hospitalized. A similar incident took place in 2021 also on Pemba (and in many other locations around the world) where apparently the meat, but also the eggs, are considered a delicacy or are eaten for ceremonial/religious purposes. Some of the victims apparently had eaten turtle meat before without problems. It is obvious that the local authorities, should do a lot more in terms of enforcing the existing turtle protection legislation as well as informing and convincing consumers and controlling sellers, turtle hunters and fishermen. But a solution can only come by tackling socioeconomic issues on Pemba island, also through the development of appropriate forms of Tourism.