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Concern over death of turtles

Staff Reporter

Highest number of deaths in Devi region

BHUBANESWAR: Environmental pressure group Greenpeace on Wednesday said death toll of endangered Olive Ridley Turtle had crossed its average mortality in Devi Region.

“Despite continued warnings by local conservation groups, turtle mortalities are set to be the highest in the last seven seasons, starting with 2002. According to independent estimates, over 4000 carcasses have now been recorded in the Devi Region (Chilika to Paradip) stretch alone, until February 2008,” Greenpeace said in a statement here.

The organisation said this was well above the average mortality of 2470 recorded in this area in the last seven seasons. “Taken together with mortality figures south of Chilika, in Gahirmatha and north of the Dhamra river mouth, including Udabali Island, the total mortality for the entire State is likely to be in the region of 12,000 plus,” it said.

"The Orissa Government is yet to equip the Department of Forests (Wildlife) with the required resources to do the job. If the State Government is serious about protecting the turtles, it is time for them to back their claims up with the necessary resources to get the job done," said Sanjiv Gopal, Oceans campaigner with Greenpeace.

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