Three people have died and at least 32 have been hospitalized in the Philippines after eating an endangered sea turtle.

As the BBC reports, dozens of Teduray natives reported symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps after cooking and eating the sea turtle last week in a coastal town in Maguindanao del Norte province, officials said.

Although it is illegal to hunt or eat sea turtles under Philippine environmental laws, the sea creatures are still eaten as a traditional delicacy in some communities.

However, sea turtles that consume contaminated algae can be toxic when cooked and consumed.

Some of the dogs, cats and chickens fed on the same sea turtle also died, local official Irene Dillo told the BBC. He added that the authorities are investigating the causes of the deaths.

The sea turtle was cooked as adobo, a popular dish in the Philippines consisting of meat and vegetables simmered in vinegar and soy sauce.

Residents of Datu Blah Sinsuat, a seaside town known for its white, sandy beaches and clear waters, often get their food from the sea. “It was unfortunate because there is so much other seafood in their village – lobsters, fish,” said Ms. Dillo.

Most of the residents who were treated have since been discharged, local media reported, while the three who died were buried immediately – in accordance with local tradition.

Datu Mohamad Sinsuat Jr, a local councilor, said he told local officials to strictly enforce a ban on sea turtle hunting in the area and vowed that “this food poisoning incident will never happen again”.

Most sea turtle species have been categorized as endangered and it is illegal in the Philippines to collect, harm or kill any of them. However, sea turtles are hunted in some cultures for their meat and eggs, which are believed to contain medicinal properties.

In 2013, 68 people in the eastern province of Samar in the Philippines became ill – and four of them died – after eating a sea turtle found near their village.