(IN) VSPCA - Dolphins dead in same place as over 300 sea turtles washed up

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Three recent articles below from The Hindu.

 

Date:07/01/2008 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/07/stories/2008010765990400.htm

 

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

 

Dolphins washed ashore

 

Staff Reporter

 

VISAKHAPATNAM: Two dolphins were washed ashore at Mutyalampalem near Paravada on

Sunday morning. The spot at which they were found by local fishermen was close

to the one where Olive Ridley Turtles washed ashore a few days ago raising fears

of chemical pollution.

 

The dolphins measured about 6 ft, it was learnt.

 

Conservator of Forests P.V.Padmanabham said the dolphins could have frozen to

death, suffering from a disease or injured or hit by bigger species like whales.

 

He was of the view that if it were pollution-related, other species also would

have washed ashore.

 

However, a post-mortem would be done on the dolphins and the department staff

and representatives of Visakha Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had

gone there. The examination will be done by experts.

 

© Copyright 2000 - 2008 The Hindu

 

 

Date:03/01/2008 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/03/stories/2008010359530300.htm

 

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

 

More Olive Ridley turtles washed ashore

 

Staff Reporter

 

VISAKHAPATNAM: More and more Olive Ridley turtles, declared endangered

under the Wildlife Protection Act, are being washed ashore near Thikkavanipalem

beach in Parawada mandal in the district on Wednesday.

 

A team from Forest Department, led by an IFS officer, also visited the

spot to take water samples for certain tests following allegations that several

turtle carcases reached the shore due to ocean pollution caused by some

industries in the nearby vicinity and non-use of turtle exclusion device (TED)

by the trawlers.

 

Fishermen of the area had alleged that effluents discharged by NTPC

Simhadri Super Thermal Power Plant and another chemical unit located in the area

could have been responsible for the large-scale death of turtles.

 

Visakha Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals president Pradeep

Kumar Nath, who led a team of volunteers to Thikkavanipalem and nearby areas,

said they had launched a survey of the status of turtles.

 

“We were shocked to see arrival of several dead turtles continuously,” he

said on Wednesday.

 

Several turtles were getting killed due to failure of the authorities in

enforcing the use of TED by trawlers and indiscriminate release of industrial

effluents into the sea.

 

Pradeep Kumar Nath said they should conduct autopsy and chemical tests

dead turtles immediately after they were found ashore and advised them not to

take species, which were in a highly decomposed state.

 

The VSPCA has decided to survey the entire coastline from Thikkavanipalem

and nearby areas up to Visakhapatnam to prepare an action plan for protecting

the dwindling population of Olive Ridley turtles.

 

© Copyright 2000 - 2008 The Hindu

 

 

Date:02/01/2008 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/02/stories/2008010253390400.htm

 

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

 

Over 300 turtles found dead on beach

 

VISAKHAPATNAM: Over 300 Olive Ridley turtles were found dead on the shore

at Thikkavanipalem in Parawada mandal. Conservation activists and fishermen of

the locality suspect that it could be due to discharge of industrial effluents.

NTPC Simhadri and few other industrial units are located in the vicinity. A

large number of carcasses were found last year during the current season at

Baruva in Srikakulam district. During the year-end, a large number of Olive

Ridley turtles arrive all along the coast of North Andhra to lay eggs. –Staff

Reporter

 

© Copyright 2000 - 2008 The Hindu