The Hindu : Turtles in sand

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 03, 2004

National

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Turtles in sand

The sand artist, Sudarshan Pattnaik, at work in Puri. — PTI

PURI, MARCH 2. Hundreds of visitors have viewed nearly 30 sand sculptures depicting the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles that visit the Orissa coast in lakhs for nesting every year. Thousands of them are trapped in the nets of the mechanised trawlers or devoured by predators.

Disturbed by the large-scale killings, the sand artist, Sudarshan Pattnaik, along with the students of the Golden Sand Art Institute here, joined environmentalists to voice their concern through sand art.

Mr. Pattnaik, who has participated in more than 20 international events, has made an attempt along with his young artists to express solidarity with wildlife enthusiasts and environmentalists on the issue of conservation of the sea turtles.

Turtles of varying sizes were sculpted on the beach close to the Digaban khunti. It seemed to be a live depiction of the turtles facing the threat of their lives on the beach of Gahirmatha, the world's largest rookery; the Rushikulya beach, the second largest nesting site; and the Devi river mouth.

Soon enough, some of the sculptures were washed away by the waves. Some of them were so created as to look like turtle carcasses lying scattered about. — UNI

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