Global Warming

Panama turtle eggs could 'fry'

Sea turtle eggs laid in the sand of beaches in Panama risk getting fried before hatching because of rising temperatures, an environmental protection group in the Central American country is warning.

With the rise of a couple of degrees in the overall average temperature, many species of turtle will disappear because the nests will fry,

The group has found that temperature spikes are risking the viability of eggs laid by thousands of sea turtles on two Pacific coast beaches it monitors.

The fact that the sand is warmer, too, increases the chances of female turtles hatching, throwing gender ratios out of balance.

Temperature spikes have reached 36°C. The eggs need a sand temperature range of 26 to 35°C to be viable. Higher than that and incubation is halted, with the proteins inside becoming cooked.