The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Turtle rescued near Chennai

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Friday, Jan 05, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Turtle rescued near Chennai

Staff Reporter

Normally found in Gulf of Mannar

RARE VISITOR: A green turtle that strayed into the waters off Nainar Kuppam is rescued on Thursday. — PHOTO: N. Sridharan.

CHENNAI : Sealife enthusiasts in Chennai on Thursday rescued a large green turtle that was caught in the nets off the Nainar Kuppam beach south of Chennai along the East Coast Road.

They helped the turtle come out of the net, removed barnacles on its head and body before releasing it back into the sea.

Members of the Kadal Aamai Padhukavalargall (sea turtles protection group) group were on a walk along the Nainar Kuppam beach when they saw the turtle caught in a large net along the shore.

They immediately informed Supraja Dharini, chairperson of TREE Foundation, who came there and identified it as a green turtle. These creatures are found only in the Gulf of Mannar region and off the Andaman and Nicobar islands and it was rare to see one alive off the Chennai coast.

The turtle's age could be between 12 and 15 years, she said.

Although green turtles do not frequent the waters off Chennai coast, members of the KAP said they had seen different turtles foraging at the rock formations in the waters off Nainar Kuppam village, Dr. Dharini said.

The KAP members removed barnacles from the turtle's head and neck to facilitate its movements, before releasing it into the sea.

The turtle was over 30 inches long and was smaller than adult of their species, though bigger than an Olive Ridely, she said. The upper shell had proper markings of the typical green turtle and the underside was completely cream in colour.

"It was a real joyous occasion for the KAP to see the turtle going back into the water after the rescue," she noted.

The Tree Foundation can be reached at 044-24492242 or mobile phone: 94440-52242; E-Mail: treefoundation2002@yahoo.com

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