Nesting loggerhead turtle poached on Cayman Brac

A critically endangered loggerhead turtle was taken by poachers from a beach on Cayman Brac on Wednesday night, the Department of Environment has reported.

The turtle was taken as she came out of the water to nest, the DoE said, and she has not been recovered.

“DoE enforcement, along with the police, on Thursday followed up at a reported location and vehicle but with no success,” the department said in a Facebook post.

Poaching is a recurring problem in the Cayman Islands.

Three men recently appeared in court on charges for illegally taking 194 conch and other protected species from the water, nearly four months after they were arrested for poaching.

Turtle nesting season, when the animals leave the sea to climb onto beaches to lay their eggs, typically runs from May to November.

Loggerheads remains critically endangered even though last year the species enjoyed a record-breaking nesting year, with 350 loggerhead nests recorded across the three islands, a 77% increase over the 2020 figure of 197.

However, the DoE said the numbers of mature loggerheads are substantially low.

“Sadly, the Cayman Brac loggerhead numbers are close to extinction as they are estimated at less than 30 mature nesting females. Losing mature nesting turtles to poachers is one of the greatest threats facing this population and may lead to their extinction,” the DoE said Friday.

The loggerhead sea turtle is a Part 1 protected species, meaning it is protected at all times under the National Conservation Act, the DoE said.

“Take of any kind (incidental or intentional) is a breach of this Act and is a prosecutable offence. Please report suspicious sale of turtle meat or eggs to 925-3647 or 911,” it added.