I

t has been reported that at least three children have died, with dozens of others sick, after they ate poisonous turtle meat on the Mentawai islands.

These people have consumed turtle meat for many centuries, knowing that it is perfectly safe to do so. Dying from eating turtle meat has occurred on the islands in the past.

The central government, including officials on the islands, should prohibit the population from killing turtles based on the fact that these marine species are now poisonous and dangerous for consumption.

Over the centuries, these turtles were unable to defend themselves against people living on islands in the Indian Ocean, spanning the Andaman Islands to Mentawai. Apparently, these marine species have now grown glands that somehow release poison in order to survive. Since eight turtle species worldwide are now being protected, I’m not surprised that this particular species can now protect itself and I welcome this fact.

The population of the Mentawai Islands living off the coast of West Sumatra should stick to eating fish only and it is the responsibility of the government to help these people by prohibiting the killing of turtles and to introduce corn, cassava, rice and noodles as a replacement food staple.

Lynna van der Zee-Oehmke
South Arnhem, the Netherlands