Other States - Orissa   

DRDO takes steps to save Olive Ridley

Kendrapara: To ensure the safety of forest patrol guarding Olive Ridley turtles, the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has launched a programme for establishing direct communication link with turtle protection units along the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.

Protective cover

The protective cover provided by the defence personnel in test range center at Wheeler’s Island, located in close vicinity of world’s largest rookery of 72,271Olive turtles at Gahirmatha beach, has given a shot in the arm to the beleaguered forest department, official sources said.

The patrolling vessels now engaged in intercepting deep-sea-trawlers illegally fishing at Gahirmatha have got directly connected with high frequency communication link network of the test range center.

As a result the crew members of turtle protection vessels can now seek immediate help from DRDO surveillance vessels to meet exigencies like on-shore onslaught from armed intruding fishing vessels, the sources said.

The communication link from the defence installation would be maintained till the mass nesting of turtles expected in March this year.

The forest department had put forth a proposal in this regard before the DRDO seeking its active help in conservation of threatened sea turtles, sighted en-mass in this part during the winter months.

A special request had been made on direct radio link forest vessels with defence surveillance teams considering the incidents of armed attack by trespassing fishing vessels, forest department sources said. - PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Truckers plan indefinite strike
12-hour Cuttack bandh total for traders
Relics installation ceremony
Five gangsters held
Efforts to maintain calm in 2 districts
Phulbani records lowest temperature of State
Paswan to lay stone for RSP works
Rs. 1,000 cr. for road projects
Award for Swosti Group
Sanjukta Prativa Samman for Odissi dancer
Black belts for six students of Kung fu
Stress on distance education
Meet the Artist
Feeling safe
DRDO takes steps to save Olive Ridley

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu