Mutant Two-Headed Turtle Born On Paradise Island

This mutant two-headed turtle has astonished conservationists after hatching at a marine sanctuary on a paradise island off the coast of Malaysia.

The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) was hatched at the Mabul Turtle Hatchery on Mabul Island off the coast of the north-eastern Malaysian state of Sabah.

The hatchling was one of 93 in the nest, according to the Mabul Turtle Hatchery, the conservation arm of the scuba dive company Scuba Junkie.

Credit: AsiaWire/@scubajunkieseas
The two-headed baby turtle was sent to Mabul Turtle Rehabilitation Centre for care and observation

Company chairman Mohd Khairuddin Riman said that they have released around 13,000 hatchlings in the past, but have never seen a turtle with two heads before.

Scuba Junkie marine biologist and conservation manager David McCann said that both heads breathe separately and react independently of each other.

He added: “It is fascinating. The right head seems to control the front right flipper, and the left head the front left flipper. Yet they are capable of coordinating their movements to walk and swim.”

Veterinarian Dr. Sen Nathan said that the case is highly unusual, but not unique as a similar two-headed turtle hatched on Redang Island in 2014.

He added that the hatchling was monitored for three months before dying of pneumonia.

Nathan said: “Unfortunately, these turtles would not survive in the wild, including this specimen, whose plastron (flat part of its shell) is not fully developed or closed.

“The hatchling is being kept in shallow water to allow it to breathe easily.”

The two-headed hatchling will be kept under observation at the hatchery.


To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Lee BullenSub-EditorJoseph Golder,  Agency: Asia Wire Report


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