DYING?

HE Olive Ridley turtle, a species revered for its unique mass nesting phenomenon known as arribada, is facing a grave threat along India's east coast. Despite being protected under Schedule 1 of India's Wildlife Protection Act, 1972—a status that places it on par with the tiger—the species is increasingly falling victim to human activities, particularly mechanised fishing practices. This year, thousands of turtles are washing ashore dead, their lifeless bodies bearing the scars of a relentless battle against unsustainable fishing and habitat destruction. The east coast—particularly the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu—is a critical habitat for Olive Ridley turtles. The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Odisha, for instance, is the world's largest nesting site for the species. However, the very waters that serve as their breeding grounds have become a death trap due to the unchecked proliferation of mechanised trawlers and gillnets.

- S V KRISHNA CHAITANYA @Chennai

areas, where females and males come together for mating around this time. This might have resulted in mass mortality. If drowning is the cause, there is no doubt turtles are getting entangled in fishing nets and dying.

Studies undertaken by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and co-authored by Sivakumar, say Olive Ridleys remain along the Orissa coast till May, gradually starting the post-nesting migration to Sri Lanka via, Andhra coast during June and July and thereafter into the northern Tamil Nadu and eastern Sri Lanka coast and remain on the east coast of Sri Lanka from September to November largely foraging. They tend to start their return migration to Orissa coast during early November, some of them reaching the off shore waters of Orissa by November-end and early December. Migration and movement of the long distance moving marine turtle is better studied using satellite telemetry techniques.