Conservation eludes Olive Ridley Turtles

Decomposed carcasses spotted near the confluence point of river and Bay of Bengal

An unprecedented number of carcasses of Olive Ridley Turtles along the stretch of the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary (KWL) in Krishna district speak about the pathetic state of their conservation by the forest and wildlife authorities.

The KWL has been one of the safest nesting sites for the Olive Ridley Turtles in the State.

Until this year, the forest authorities have initiated numerous measures, conserving the eggs and hatchlings during its breeding season that lasts till early summer.

Coastal belt

During a walk through the coastal belt near the confluence point of river Krishna into Bay of Bengal here in the Krishna district, one can see dead Olive Ridley Turtles.

Most of them were in a decomposed state.

The dead Olive Ridley Turtles were documented within the jurisdiction of the KWL near Eelachetladibba area during a field visit by this correspondent accompanied by Avanigadda forest range authorities and the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation on Tuesday. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red Data declared the Olive Ridley Turtle as ‘vulnerable’. Fishing nets, which were left by the boat operators on the beach, turned death traps for death of the Olive Ridley Turtles.

Fund crunch

The higher officials did not accept the proposal made by the Avanigadda officials to set up rookeries in the KWL, citing lack of funds.

“Higher officials communicated us about lack of availability of funds to initiate conservatory measures such as setting up the rookeries in the KWL this year. We did not collect eggs of Olive Ridley Turtles in the KWL this year,” Avanigadda Forest Range Officer Subhadra told The Hindu . In 2014 nesting season alone, at least 27,000 Olive Ridley Turtles eggs were collected and conserved in the five rookeries set up at Jinkapalem, Sangameswaram, Lighthouse area and Eelachetladibba, a few safe beaches for nesting of Olive Ridley Turtles. Until last year, the Yanadi tribal persons were directly involved in collection of eggs and release of hatchlings, ensuring safe nesting environment for the Olive Ridley Turtles.