Summary
Three people died and 32 were hospitalized in the Philippines after eating a stew made from an endangered sea turtle in Maguindanao del Norte.
Symptoms included vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal spasms, likely caused by toxins from contaminated algae consumed by the turtle.
The stew was a traditional dish, but hunting or consuming sea turtles is illegal under Philippine law.
Similar poisoning cases have occurred, with sea turtles traditionally hunted for their flesh and eggs in some communities.
I had to double-check the location where the incident happened, prepared to write paragraphs on how the area is poor and undeveloped and so environmental protections are ignored when literal hunger is the more important consideration… but I am not too sure now.
The overall area is poor, not entirely remote, but still remote in comparison to places like Manila or Davao. I was under the impression that this event happened on a remote island municipality where sourcing food is an issue, but maybe it’s just poverty?
Not excusing the act nor gloating over the deaths though, just trying to understand (and failing) how this came to be. Not to mention why they ignored the glaring signs before they slaughtered and cooked the creature. In the news report I saw here locally, and I am recalling from memory, it is said that the victims found the turtle’s shell to be discolored, but still proceeded anyways.
Article mentions indigenous.
Also, this is southern Mindanao we’re talking about. Cagayan de Oro is kinda viewed as backswoodsy by people in Manila and this is well south of Cagayan. This is well off the beaten path.
Anywhere you go in the Philippines you can find hunger. It’s everywhere. Not exonerating them, but we’re likely talking subsistence level fishermen here.
I am from Manila, so I have been careful not to brush the area off as “backswoodsy and poor”. But yeah, that’s why I was prepared to explain things off as “yeah, they’re poor and desperate”. But then again, it feels wrong, IDK, lol~
I missed the word “indigenous” even though it’s mentioned not just in the article, but also in the news report I saw. With a possible few exceptions, the indigenous peoples in the Philippines have been neglected and marginalized, and their communities been poor because of that.
Interesting insight. I was initially thinking this was some rare delicacy which the wealthy take part in, believing they are above the law and above environmental regulations.
I think it’s still a sought-for delicacy, and they would have probably sold its meat if it weren’t for the environmental regulations making such a trade difficult.
Also, something is gnawing me about how the article said lots of other seafood are available in the area. So I am thinking the sea turtle crawled its way to where the victims are, and the victims thinking “it’s a waste if we let this delicacy go to waste, let’s cook it!” I don’t know.
Definitely not a bunch of rich dudes gorging themselves on a rare delicacy and getting their comeuppance tho.