Death on the Beach

We were walking along the seemingly endless beach of the northern Pacific coast of Peru. It was tranquil. The sun was soon to set over the ocean.  The waves rolled in, breaking in white froth.  The sound was regular and soothing.

Ahead we saw large black birds sitting on a fence and others gathered around something in the sand.  As we approached, those in the sand scattered a short distance away, revealing the remains of a turtle.  It was the first of two that we were to see. Each was about two feet (61 cm) in length.

Why were we seeing dead turtles?  A passing fisherman explained that when a child gets ill, the mother abandons it, and they die on a local beach.  To him, it was just a natural, common phenomenon. 

Looking at the exposed skull and hollowed eye-sockets, I felt sorrow for the poor creatures. And, you ?
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