All ten species of sea turtle in Iran are facing extinction due to oil pollution and destruction of breeding grounds.
Iranian wildlife expert Hanieh Ghaffari has issued a warning amid fears that the Iranian government is too focused on the coronavirus epidemic to turn its resources to wildlife protection.
The most famous of the sea turtles under threat include the hawksbill turtle and the green sea turtle. Oil pollution is coming from leaking tankers.
The warning was aired on Iran International TV.
Senior TV editor Fariba Sahraei said: “It is very sad to hear that these species of sea turtle may soon be extinct.”
