Save the Ridley
NIVEDITA GANGULY
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On the endangered list, these turtles need to have protected zones.
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PHOTO: K.R. DEEPAK
Please protect them: An Olive Ridley washed ashore
The beaches of Visakhpatnam are considered to be a sporadic nesting area for the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles that cross oceans every year to nest in the Gahirmatha beach, part of Bhittarkanika wildlife sanctuary in Orissa, known for one of the largest nesting populations of sea turtles in the world.
Serious issue
As yet another nesting season of the endangered marine species gets under way, the problem of dead Olive Ridleys being ashore on Vizag beaches continues to haunt environmentalists and marine researchers. Recently, an adult female Olive Ridley Turtle was washed ashore dead on the Ramakrishna beach. According to research workers of Andhra University, the visible injury on the forehead, lower jaw and neck indicate that the marine creature died after being caught in the fishing nets.
Towards the end of the year, a large number of Olive Ridley turtles, (protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972,) arrive all along the coast of North Andhra to lay eggs. These turtles are classified as endangered under the IUCN Red List and also listed on Appendix-1 of CITES.
Decline
Every year hundreds of these turtles fall victim to the nets of fishing trawlers, leading a decline in the species of the marine creatures. “The Olive Ridley Turtles take 25 to 30 years to reach adulthood. Thus, the rising mortality rate can have a devastating effect on the survival of the species and also cause heavy damage to the environment,” said Prof. B. Bharatha Lakshmi of the Department of Zoology, Andhra University.
Failure of the authorities in enforcing the use of turtle excluder device (TED) by trawlers is cited as one of the main reasons behind the deaths of these endangered species. Research workers are making a detailed study on the specific nesting zones of the turtles. “The only solution is to declare the marked areas as protected zones for Olive Ridley Turtles during the nesting season,” Prof. Lakshmi said.
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