(IN) VSPCA - Pollution proves fatal for turtles

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Date:25/03/2008 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/25/stories/2008032553420300.htm

 

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

 

Pollution proves fatal for turtles

 

 

Nivedita Ganguly

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VSPCA attributes death of hundreds of turtles to the presence of nitrite

content in the vicinity of beaches

 

 

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— A file photo

 

An Olive Ridley turtle at the beach in Visakhapatnam.

 

VISAKHAPATNAM: Recent tests conducted by the Visakha Society For

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (VSPCA) has given a fresh twist to the case of

the Olive Ridley turtles that were washed ashore at Thikkavanipalem in Parawada

mandal in December last year. The water collected from the beach has tested

positive for nitrite, which in concentrated form is highly toxic and can cause

death of aquatic creatures. The test reports indicate that the death of hundreds

of Olive Ridley turtles occurred due to the presence of high levels of

concentrated nitrite content in the vicinities of the Muthyalayapalem area

beaches.

 

“A large number of dead fish and around two dozen dead dolphins were also

spotted at the shore two months ago,” VSPCA president Pradeep Kumar Nath told

The Hindu.

 

Nitrite content is high at places where large factory farms raise pigs and

chicken. Chicken shit is deadly stuff and sea turtles are only some of the many

victims.

 

‘No action plan’

 

 

VSPCA has submitted the findings of the reports to the Forest Department

and the AP Pollution Control Board to study the toxic effects all along the

coastal areas within the vicinity of the shrimp hatcheries, chemical

laboratories and pharmaceutical companies. Environmentalists feel that lack of a

proper action plan will not only cause destruction to the marine species but

also heavy damage to the environment.

 

“We are not ruling out non-use of turtle exclusion device (TED) by the

trawlers as one of the reasons behind this. But trawling activities are not so

high in those areas. Authorities should come forward for a deeper investigation

of this issue,” said Pradeep Kumar Nath.

 

During the year-end, a large number of Olive Ridley turtles, protected

under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, arrive all along the

coast of North Andhra to lay eggs. The famed Olive Ridleys cross oceans to nest

in the Gahirmatha beach, part of Bhittarkanika wildlife sanctuary in Orissa,

known for one of the largest nesting population of sea turtles in the world.

 

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