Photo of turtle on Maldives airport runway goes viral

The widely-shared photo of the green sea turtle next to three eggs on the runway sparked debate about the the environmental cost of infrastructure development in the Maldives.

Most turtles return to the same beach where they were hatched to lay eggs. The Maafaru island in the northern Noonu atoll is a nesting site for the endangered species. Despite the construction of the airport last year, turtles continue to come ashore for nesting, the Maafaru council told the press.

The turtle in the photo was reportedly healthy and safely guided back to the sea by locals last Tuesday. However, she has since been found dead, local media reported Sunday morning.