Albino Baby Sea Turtle

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KathyV

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Cayman's Department of the Environment found an albino sea turtle hatchling in a nest this week:

https://www.facebook.com/DOECayman/photos/pcb.2932453306769450/2932453150102799/?type=3&theater

AlbinoSeaTurtle.jpg


AlbinoSeaTurtle2.jpg
 
Wow!

That is so cool!
 
Wow!

That is so cool!
Wow!

That is so cool!

I am wondering about its chances of survival in the wild. I have mixed feelings about the Cayman Turtle Centre (aka The Turtle Farm) because it is primarily a place for raising and processing turtle as a source of food. But they do raise and release turtles into the wild and their zoo-like offerings include education about Caribbean turtles and protection in the wild. So I think that they should raise and display this albino turtle in the Turtle Center because I don't think that it has much chance of survival in the wild.
 
Not only does it not have much chance in the wild, where its approximate value to nature is that of a generic little piece of meat, it would be a detriment to the species if it survived. Think about it.

1.) Sea turtles are normally fairly dark colored and 'cold-blooded,' and in Hawaii haul out to bask in the sun based on what a friend told me (and I saw in his photos). An albino is more vulnerable to sun damage, an issue albino humans have to deal with, but a turtle operating on instinct wouldn't know.

2.) Its eye sight may be in question. In the pet turtle hobby, albino red-eared sliders are deliberately produced, and I've been told often the very young juveniles have poor eye sight for awhile.

3.) Let's say against all odds it survives to adulthood. That's bad for the species. It will procreate and spread it's dysfunction albino gene(s) to further generations. If the gene is recessive, once it gets into the gene pool it won't be easily eradicated by natural selection, and will occasionally lead to other albinos and deaths.

Now, as a fund-raising novelty on public display at an institution? Oh, yeah, that could work. Albino alligators are used for that (and cost a whole lot of money).
 
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