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`Neythal' rewarded for protecting turtles

By K. P. Pushparaj

KANHANGAD, NOV. 21. The committed efforts of `Neythal,' a group of nature lovers engaged in protecting the nesting site of Olive Ridley, rare species among the marine turtles, in Thekkekadapuram, near here, have been rewarded.

`Neythal' was recently given the P.V. Thampi Endowment Award for the best environmental activity in the State during 2003.

The award, carrying a purse of Rs.5,001 and citation, will be presented by the Assembly Speaker, Therambil Ramakrishnan, in Kochi on November 27.

The nature-friendly initiatives of the group had won them the Central Government's National Accreditation under the National Turtle Conservation Programme.

It was in October 2002 that the group started its delicate but dedicated task of collecting and protecting the eggs of the Olive Ridleys.

The oval-shaped Olive Ridely turtle (Lepidochely's olivacea) is considered the smallest of marine turtles and is an endangered species.

These turtles lay their eggs on select beaches during the breeding season.

Kanhangad and Payyoli are the two nesting sites of the Olive Ridleys in the State.

Conservation

With this year's nesting season beginning in mid-September, the activists of `Neythal' have started gathering the eggs.

So far, about 1,500 eggs have been gathered and preserved in the hatchery.

The members of `Neythal' keep vigil, round-the-clock, to ensure the safety of the hatchlings. Last week, some 150 turtles were released into the sea.

The group had gathered and preserved as many as 3,600 eggs during the last breeding season, from September-end to mid-January. They released some 2,200 hatchlings as well.

Come December and January, many more turtles will arrive at the Thekkekadapuram coastline for nesting.

The members of `Neythal' are looking forward to repeating their success story for the third time since the inception of their turtle conservation programme.

Activities

`Neythal', which began with a few members, now has many members in its group, including college students and women. K. Suni, a councillor of the Kanhangad Municipality, is the president of the group and Krishnan Azhithala the secretary.

The group hold nature and environmental camps for children and the public. They recently constituted a group exclusively for kids - the `Neythal Kids.'

The organisation plans to conduct a camp on nature education and environmental awareness for teachers and students.

The topics dealt with will include rivers, ocean, estuarine eco-system, the coastal protection and environmental protection.

Other projects

A Coastal Institute and Research Centre and an environmental library are the two major projects the group hopes to set up in Thekkekadapuram.

However, financial constraints have made them put their plans on hold.

Apart from an aid of Rs.10,000 from the Forest Department, the group has not yet been given any financial assistance by either the Government or other agencies.

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