Probably for the first time in recent years, the carcass of a giant 125-year-old green turtle was found washed ashore on Valangapuri seashore near here.
S. Sathish, Mandapam Forest Range Officer, said anti-poaching watchers, who were on a regular shore patrolling, found the carcass of the female turtle, weighing about 250 kg, around 10 p.m. on Wednesday.
“We used to see carcasses of Olive Ridley being washed ashore off Gulf of Mannar, and this is the first time in recent years that we found the carcass of a green turtle in the region,” Mr. Sathish said.
Green turtles had a life span of about 300 years, and fully grown turtles weighed about 300 kg. As this turtle weighed about 250 kg, it should be at least 125 years old, he said.
The endangered species, protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, measured 150 cm in length, 134 cm in breadth and 268 cm in circumference, he said.
G. Saranya, Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, who conducted the post-mortem, said the turtle could have died three to five days ago as the carcass was decomposed. It had an injury on its carapace and it could have died after hitting against a rock while coming to the shore for nesting, she said.
It was buried on the seashore on the instruction of Deepak S. Bilgi, Wildlife Warden, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.
