Wildlife trade, Costa Rican ocean environment and sea turtles’ health

The illegal wildlife trade is a significant issue, with traffickers targeting over 4,000 species of wild fauna and flora in more than 80% of countries. Shockingly, 40% of confiscated mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians are on the red list of endangered or almost endangered species, contributing to the disappearance of animal species. This illegal practice could be worth up to $23 billion annually.

The movie “The Last Shark” follows marine conservationists in Costa Rica striving to protect the country’s diverse coastal ecosystems, which are home to some of the most varied corals in the Pacific and attract numerous sharks and rays. However, these efforts face resistance from the fishing sector, which seeks to exploit marine diversity at the expense of endangered species. Additionally, rising ocean temperatures pose a threat to marine life.

Sea turtles worldwide are primarily threatened by commercial fishing activities, with turtles often ending up in nets accidentally, a phenomenon known as bycatch. A study conducted by scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that these turtles suffer from a condition called the bends, in which unwanted gas is formed in their organs due to being forced to the surface too quickly. This can lead to organ damage and death, even if turtles appear uninjured.