The commencement of the annual turtle nesting season along Chennai's shoreline has been marred by a distressing discovery. Conservationists and wildlife officials have reported finding ten dead sea turtles washed up on the city's beaches between Lighthouse and Besant Nagar this week.
A Troubling Start to Nesting Season
This early-season cluster of fatalities has intensified worries about the mounting dangers confronting these endangered marine reptiles. The olive ridley turtles, which are frequent visitors to the Tamil Nadu coast, are the primary species affected. While volunteers and officials acknowledge that finding carcasses is not uncommon during this period, the concentration of ten deaths within a short coastal stretch is particularly alarming.
The condition of the turtles provided crucial clues to investigators. The upper sections of the carcasses were found intact, but the lower parts exhibited clear signs of decay. This suggests that the turtles had likely been deceased for several days before the currents brought them to the shore.
Investigating the Causes of Death
Entanglement in fishing gear remains the most prevalent threat, as it prevents turtles from surfacing to breathe. However, experts warn that other hazards are becoming more common. Collisions with fishing vessels, ingestion of plastic waste, and general marine pollution are significant contributors to turtle mortality.
A senior wildlife official confirmed that the department's veterinarian performed necropsies on all ten carcasses before they were buried. The preliminary findings have intriguingly indicated that the deaths were not a result of nearshore trawling, an activity that is prohibited within five nautical miles of the coast.
Weather, Fishing, and Future Protection
Could weather be a factor? V Balaji, a deep-sea boat owner based in Kasimedu, reported that rough sea conditions in recent days had kept the majority of trawlers and deep-sea vessels anchored. Boats that had ventured out earlier were forced to seek refuge in harbours in Nellore and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.
"No deep-sea boats from Kasimedu have gone out recently," Balaji stated, hinting that local fishing activity might not be directly responsible for this tragic incident.
In response to the ongoing threats, the Forest Department is gearing up to initiate a telemetry study on olive ridley turtles. This research will track their migration patterns and aid in pinpointing high-risk zones. Furthermore, three boats have already been acquired for coastal patrolling between Neelankarai and Ennore. Officials emphasize that the recent deaths highlight the critical need to begin this patrol work without any further delay.
