Besant loves to swim in circles. And, that’s all he can do after he lost one of his flippers. But, thanks to a few turtle lovers on the shore, he was rescued and put up in a rehabilitation centre, where his new abode is a round blue tub. Unlike the expansive ocean, this tub has walls. “What could be so fascinating about an injured turtle like me?” he must wonder, seeing all of us staring down at him curiously at 9 pm at night, as we light him up with torch lights and click his picture on our phones. Does he enjoy all this attention or does he want to return to the sea?
However, he is safe here. The turtle rehabilitation centre of TREE Foundation in Injambakkam that nurtures these reptiles, is a cross between a hospital and school. There are eight rescued Olive Ridley turtles here to keep Besant company. Some have massive head injuries, while others have wounded carapaces (top, rounded shells).
Tonight, around 45 students, journalists, photographers, and Nature enthusiasts have gathered at the Foundation to participate in the Turtle Walk, marching along the beach from Neelankarai to Injambakkam.
Life in a basket
Ou r first destination is a bamboo hatchery, covered with loosely-woven coconut thatch to regulate the temperature for hatching. We are joined by Dr. Supraja Dharini, chairperson and founder of the Foundation; Pugalarasan, a local fisherman; and Aditya Bharadwaj, a young volunteer. Two inverted bamboo baskets serve as shelters for the 237 turtle hatchlings. There is palpable excitement in the group as the volunteers lift the baskets. Children in the group squeal in excitement, as turtle babies scuttle about in the sand. Our next job is to guide the hatchlings safely into the sea. Bharadwaj and Dharini lead the way, and everyone crouches on all fours to watch them start out on their journey.
Yolk sacs on the hatchlings sustain them with food during the first two to three days when they are out in the ocean. “Once you release them, they will swim for three days. After that, they start to feed on algae and small organisms,” says Pugalarasan. “Use your mobile light to guide them to the sea,” says Bharadwaj. An army of baby turtles speed off in the direction of smartphone lights directed at the ocean. Huge waves wash over them, carrying them into the depths of the ocean.
Once we release all the hatchlings, we resume our walk, in search of a nesting turtle. However, Dharini warns us that it is unlikely, as it’s already the end of March. “Catching sight of a mother turtle nesting depends on luck,” says Bharadwaj. “There is high tide today. Let’s see if we can find one.” We trudge on, holding tight to that hope.
The loose ghost nets, which float around in the sea, are the biggest threat to the turtles that get entgangled in them. In order to prevent this, the Foundation works closely with the fishermen in the area. Says Pugalarasan: “Initially, we were not so concerned. However, when they explained to us the benefits it had on marine life, we were. Turtles keep the jelly fish population (that feeds on fish larvae) in check. Hence, they keep marine life in balance. We gain so much from the sea, it is time we gave something back to her.”
The journey home
Ac cording to the documentary screened by the Foundation, there is a belief among the fishing community that catching a turtle is bad luck. At times, these emotional narratives help better in convincing the local community about conservation. During their campaign, they tell the fishermen that turtles are like daughters of the village, says Dharini. “They come back to the shore they were born on to deliver and disappear back into the ocean after nesting. They never forget their home shore.”
An hour into a walk, there has been no sight of a nesting turtle. But, we hear some commotion ahead. Two college students have signalled Bharadwaj to stop. Could it be the mother, finally? Our hearts skip a beat in excitement and anxiety. We rush to the place where a grey, thorny ball greets us. “It is a puffer fish!” Bharadwaj exclaims.
The dead fish has been washed ashore and is still gleaming under the moonlight. “It puffs up when it senses danger or a predator. It is a tactic to drive danger away,” Dharini explains. At that instant, a boy, with spectacles and a notepad, jumps in shock, “I felt something crawl around my feet!” A scaly, pink crab scuttles away from us in fright! Maybe not a nesting Olive Ridley, but we are content that we could see other wonders of the sea. An occasional night walk on the beach might be a good idea, after all.
