Oil spills kill 17 tortoises in Saudi water

Oil pollution caused by terminal and tanker leakages killed 17 more tortoises on Saudi Arabia’s eastern coast, a local newspaper reported on Sunday.

Strollers found the 17 dead tortoises washed ashore near the industrial port of Jubail on the Gulf, Alyoum Arabic language daily said.

The tortoises ranged between 150 and 50 centimetres long and were found lying within a few metres from each other, it said.

Scores of tortoises, turtles, dolphins and other fish have been found dead in that area over the past few months because of heavy pollution.

“The death of these animals is not strange given the high pollution levels in that area as a result of oil spills from tankers and other sources,” said Colonel Mohammed Al Ghamdi, Coast Guard spokesman.