The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Probe death of turtles: FBV

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Saturday, Jan 05, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Probe death of turtles: FBV

Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM: Forum for Better Visakha has sought a detailed probe into washing ashore of several Olive Ridley turtles near Paravada during past few days.

Reacting to reports in the media, the forum deputed two of its members and confirmed hundreds of dead Olive Ridley turtles having washed ashore all along the coast near Paravada, 45 km from here.

It is possible that this havoc is more widespread. It is also possible that either toxic contamination or a sudden fluctuation in the temperature of the seawaters has contributed to this unfortunate event. In the absence of proper scientific analysis, it would not be appropriate to jump to any conclusion.

The Visakha Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Green Mercy, NGOs involved in protection of wildlife, have attributed discharge of effluents into the sea by some industries and non-use of turtle exclusion devices by the trawlers as twin reasons for the death of several hundred turtles. Retired IAS officer and forum coordinator E.A.S. Sarma, who submitted a representation to Meena Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, in this regard said that the forum had tried to find out whether any scientific laboratory or regulatory agency of the Central or the State Government had the responsibility for scientific investigation .

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