sea turtles/Visakha SPCA,India/The Hindu press

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Date:17/03/2006 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/17/stories/2006031700880200.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Mechanised trawlers prove bane of Olive Ridley turtles

Nivedita Ganguly

Most trawlers do not use the turtle excluder device

 

 

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a.. Awareness among local people on issues related to the rare turtles low

a.. Volunteers of VSPCA earmark areas used for nesting by the turtles on the

beach and protect them

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VISAKHAPATNAM: Considered to be on the verge of extinction, Olive Ridley turtles

have attracted a great deal of attention from conservationists. However, the war

between the turtles and trawlers has resulted in the death of a large number of

these turtles. Just a few days ago, three dead turtles were reportedly spotted

by the Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation (GVMC) workers at the Ramakrishna

Beach. " Initially, we were afraid of touching them. Later, we buried them in the

sand,'' said Ratna, a worker.

Unscrupulous fishing by mechanised trawlers along the State's coast during the

turtle season was a major cause for failure of mass nesting, observed Pradeep

Kumar Nath, President of Visakha Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

(VSPCA). Most trawlers don't use the Turtle Excluder Device that has an opening

on the nets for the trapped turtles to get back into the sea. Fishermen complain

that some portion of their catch is lost in the process. " But that's not true.

We have observed that the loss is hardly two per cent,'' added Nath.

During the months from January to May, the turtles arrive in large congregations

for sporadic nesting in this part of the world. Last Monday, the beach road

visitors were witness to a rare sight when two Olive Ridley turtles were found

on the beach laying eggs. But the ignorant onlookers ended up disturbing the

marine visitors. Oblivious to the fact that the turtles were laying eggs, some

people suggested that the turtles be put back into the sea as " they might have

lost their way.''

``The awareness level among the local people is low. But the forces of nature

are stronger than the danger signals, which the Ridleys might be receiving. So

they are forced to move to the shore for nesting before resuming their journey

towards the Orissa coast,'' explained Nath. Volunteers of VSPCA earmark the

areas on the beach and protect them from dogs. An adult turtle on an average

lays 60 to 70 eggs, from which hatchlings emerge after 45 to 50 days, he says.

After a few months, the eggs hatch and the hatchlings find their way back to the

sea. " As the babies are sensitive to bright light, they tend to move inland

rather than towards the sea,'' he added.

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