Over 1,100 Olive Ridley Turtles Found Dead on India’s Southern Coastline

INIndia|

Over 1,100 olive ridley sea turtles washed ashore along Tamil Nadu's coastline in January, raising alarming concerns among environmentalists. Kuppusamy Sivakumar, an ecology professor at Pondicherry University, noted this mass stranding is unprecedented in at least three decades. Typically, around 100 to 150 turtles nest annually on Chennai's beaches, making the recent deaths particularly alarming.

The dead turtles displayed signs of suffocation, with many having bulging eyes, suggesting they might have drowned after becoming entangled in fishing nets. Yuvan Aves, an environmental activist from Chennai, highlighted illegal fishing practices are likely exacerbating the crisis, as local laws banning trawlers within five nautical miles of the shore are poorly enforced.

In response, the Tamil Nadu government has heightened wildlife patrols and apprehended 24 illegal trawlers. Wildlife warden Manish Meena stated night patrols are being intensified to protect remaining hatchlings. The situation raises serious concerns about the impact of commercial fishing on the recovering population of these once-endangered turtles.

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