SEA turtles were once abundant in Jamaican waters and the island’s beaches hosted huge nesting populations of the spectacular and prehistoric creatures.

But centuries of over-exploitation — mostly during the 1600s to 1800s — decimated regional populations. Recent estimates suggest that Caribbean stocks of Green and Hawksbill sea turtles — formerly the most abundant species — have been reduced by 99.7 per cent. Today, both species are ecologically and functionally extinct.

Historically, four species of sea turtle were known to nest on the island’s beaches — the Green, the Hawksbill, the Leatherback, and the Loggerhead. But habitat loss due primarily to residential and tourism development, degradation of the marine environment, and over-exploitation have conspired to decimate all four species. Only the Hawksbill now nests in Jamaica with any regularity, and it is ranked internationally as Critically Endangered (IUCN) — the highest category of extinction risk. In short, Jamaica’s sea turtles are in a world of hurt.

Yet the carnage continues.

Despite full legal protection, sea turtles continue to be harvested as intensively as their low numbers permit. A recent UWI study underscored the problem of poaching in the Portland Bight Protected Area, as well as the threat posed by non-native predators transported to Jamaica during the colonial era.

Mongoose are a notorious example of a bio-control endeavour gone awry. The day-active mongoose was less than effective at controlling the numbers of night-active rats, but proved to be a virulent predator of native wildlife species and a particularly potent predator of sea turtle nests.

Dogs dig up nests as well, and harass and kill nesting females. Wild pigs represent a major source of nest loss along some beaches while cats and rats raid nests and consume hatchlings. Altogether, nest failure rates owing to these human-introduced pests approaches 90 per cent in some areas.

The island’s offshore cays represent the most important remaining nesting areas, in large part because most of them are free of non-native predators. However, they are not free of human predators.

The illegal harvesting of sea turtles and their eggs remains the most serious threat to these surviving populations. Aside from providing meat protein, sea turtle eggs and body parts (especially the penis), are reputed to have ‘strong back’ qualities — a deadly combination for a threatened species if those beliefs are culturally entrenched.

‘Strong back’ potions, traditional medicines and other myths

Diverse products extracted from wildlife species are purported to have medicinal properties, curing everything from arthritis to cancer to penile dysfunction — but without any scientific proof of efficacy.

The resultant harvest has led directly to the endangerment of species worldwide. For example, the market for traditional Asian medicinal products, such as tiger bones and penises, and rhinoceros horn is largely responsible for the high risk of extinction now faced by those species.

The tiger — arguably the planet’s most iconic species — has been reduced from over 100,000 to a mere 3,200 in the last century. Wildlife experts now fear the tiger could be extinct in the wild within the next 12 years — mostly as a result of continued poaching to supply the traditional medicine market in China.

Likewise, powdered rhinoceros horn is claimed to cure myriad medical ailments and the trade in raw horn to supply this demand is the major threat to the species’ persistence. Yet rhinoceros horn is made from keratin, the very same substance that comprises hair and toe nails. Imparting medicinal qualities to keratin is foolishness of a high order, driving a species extinct for a placebo effect.

But it is the attribution of qualities enhancing sexual performance that can put species at special risk. Take the tiger as an example — the true king of the jungle, whose penis is reputed to have phenomenal properties relevant to sexual performance, particularly in regard to increasing male sexual competence through enhanced size and stamina, and by functioning as an aphrodisiac.

Of course, there is no scientific proof that tiger products can do any of the things they are reputed to do. To be sure, there is no known human aphrodisiac, despite intensive search and limitless claims. Had such a discovery been made, we would all know about it, and we would all probably have tried it.

Like Asia, Jamaica also hosts a variety of traditional beliefs that impart ‘strong back’ qualities to various natural products. Turtle soup, and turtle eggs in particular, are believed to confer vigour in sexual pursuits, and their consumption is promoted by this myth. Now, even crocodiles are being consumed illegally and such consumption has also been imbued with the myth of ‘strong back’.

Wither the sea turtle?

Sea turtles in Jamaica are going, going, gone. Their numbers will never recover because most of their nesting beaches have been lost to development and their marine environment is in a deplorable state of ill health. However, we can perhaps prevent them from becoming extinct altogether, and the first order of business should be to stop eating them.

Debunking ‘strong back’ myths will ultimately be key to saving sea turtles and other endangered species. So to end emphatically: there is no animal product that increase human sexual performance. And even if there was, it wouldn’t seem to be necessary. In a pinch, try Viagra. At least it isn’t made from an endangered species.

Dr Byron S Wilson is a zoologist and lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Mona.