TN night patrol rescues 16 Olive Ridleys

FOR the first time since the crisis of mass Olive Ridley turtles broke out, a joint night patrol team on Saturday night managed to rescue and release 16 of the endangered turtles entangled in a trawl net off the north Chennai coast.

- SV KRISHNA CHAITANYA @Chennai

Experts said this is the first solid evidence that the turtle deaths are caused by bottom trawlers.

Speaking to TNIE, Chennai Wildlife Warden Manish Meena said the patrol team intercepted a trawl boat operating within the prohibited zone of 5 nautical miles near Ennore and asked the crew to lift the net out of water. "To our shock, 16 Olive Ridleys were entangled in it. Fortunately all of them were alive. The turtles were immediately checked for injuries and released back into the water," he said.