The decline in the numbers of an endangered sea turtle species along the Texas Gulf coast has resumed, ending what had been a revival and renewing extinction fears.
Numbers presented to a Tuesday gathering of scientists and environmentalists in Brownsville show what had been a rapid recovery in the population of Kemp's ridley sea turtles has been blunted in recent years.
The Houston Chronicle reports that revival came to a sudden end in 2010.
Oregon State University fish and wildlife professor Selina Heppell told the Second International Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Symposium that the reason for the "abrupt halt" in the turtle's revival is unknown.
However, the Chronicle reports presentations scheduled for later in the conference are expected to point to the effects of the 2010 BP oil spill.
