CHENNAI: After a drop in the number of nests in 2012, Olive Ridley turtles seem to have made an impressive comeback this year.
This year, volunteers of Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network (SSTCN) found 213 nests along the Neelankarai-Napier Bridge stretch between January and March. Between Neelankarai and Urur Kuppam near Elliot's Beach, 110 nests were found and 103 between Srinivasapuram and Napier Bridge.
"This is the highest since 1991 when we found around 206 nests. It looks like the 1991 mark will be crossed as we have two more weeks left for the nesting season to end," said V Arun, coordinator for SSTCN.
In 2012, volunteers found only 120 nests, and 183 nests in 2011. However, it is not all good news. While the number of nests has gone up, volunteers said the number of turtles washed ashore dead was high compared to previous years. "Many of the dead turtles that had washed ashore were females that had come to nest," said Arun.
Scientists say despite threats from fishing trawlers and urbanisation along the coast, turtles seem to be surviving. "There isn't strong evidence to show that there has been a significant decline in turtle population in the the past decade," said Kartik Shanker, assistant professor at Centre for Ecological Sciences at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. "The mass nesting (arribada) season at Rushikulya in Odisha was good this year, but conservation issues still need to be addressed," said Shanker.
Volunteers on patrol said they have had an eventful season. "On Saturday night, we found seven nests between Srinivasapuram and Napier Bridge. But what was difficult was that an adult turtle had walked to a platform in Pattinapakkam. It was walking towards the mast light. We had to carry it back to release into the sea," said R Nishanth, a student who volunteers for SSCTN. "By the end of January, we found 38 nests on Marina," he said.
The Tamil Nadu forest department too has stepped up efforts to save these endangered species. The department recently floated a tender calling for NGOs to take care of conservation activities along the coast of Tamil Nadu. Olive Ridleys are classified under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Act. They nest along the Indian coast between January and March. Fishing trawlers pose a big threat as turtles get trapped in nets. The street lights along the coast often misguide hatchlings towards land as they are instinctively drawn to the brighter lights.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/More-turtles-visit-Chennai-beach-for-nesting/articleshow/18900024.cms
This year, volunteers of Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network (SSTCN) found 213 nests along the Neelankarai-Napier Bridge stretch between January and March. Between Neelankarai and Urur Kuppam near Elliot's Beach, 110 nests were found and 103 between Srinivasapuram and Napier Bridge.
"This is the highest since 1991 when we found around 206 nests. It looks like the 1991 mark will be crossed as we have two more weeks left for the nesting season to end," said V Arun, coordinator for SSTCN.
In 2012, volunteers found only 120 nests, and 183 nests in 2011. However, it is not all good news. While the number of nests has gone up, volunteers said the number of turtles washed ashore dead was high compared to previous years. "Many of the dead turtles that had washed ashore were females that had come to nest," said Arun.
Scientists say despite threats from fishing trawlers and urbanisation along the coast, turtles seem to be surviving. "There isn't strong evidence to show that there has been a significant decline in turtle population in the the past decade," said Kartik Shanker, assistant professor at Centre for Ecological Sciences at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. "The mass nesting (arribada) season at Rushikulya in Odisha was good this year, but conservation issues still need to be addressed," said Shanker.
Volunteers on patrol said they have had an eventful season. "On Saturday night, we found seven nests between Srinivasapuram and Napier Bridge. But what was difficult was that an adult turtle had walked to a platform in Pattinapakkam. It was walking towards the mast light. We had to carry it back to release into the sea," said R Nishanth, a student who volunteers for SSCTN. "By the end of January, we found 38 nests on Marina," he said.
The Tamil Nadu forest department too has stepped up efforts to save these endangered species. The department recently floated a tender calling for NGOs to take care of conservation activities along the coast of Tamil Nadu. Olive Ridleys are classified under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Act. They nest along the Indian coast between January and March. Fishing trawlers pose a big threat as turtles get trapped in nets. The street lights along the coast often misguide hatchlings towards land as they are instinctively drawn to the brighter lights.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/More-turtles-visit-Chennai-beach-for-nesting/articleshow/18900024.cms
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