299 turtles die at breeding farm

Nearly 300 juvenile green sea turtles have died at a government-funded breeding farm in the Cayman Islands, officials said. The Cayman Turtle Farm in West Bay said the 299 young reptiles died this week after a water line broke and affected the water...

Nearly 300 juvenile green sea turtles have died at a government-funded breeding farm in the Cayman Islands, officials said.

The Cayman Turtle Farm in West Bay said the 299 young reptiles died this week after a water line broke and affected the water supply to several tanks.

Officials said water stopped flowing as crews repaired the pipe, and a back-up system failed.

They added that the turtles that died represent less than 5% of the population at the farm.

The farm has roughly 490 turtles for breeding and more than 7,000 as part of a release programme.

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