Alarm as over 1,100 dead turtles wash up in Tamil Nadu
The discovery of over 1,100 dead turtles on a beach in Tamil Nadu, India, has greatly alarmed environmentalists. The causes of death are unclear, but illegal fishing practices by fishermen are suspected of trapping the turtles, preventing them from surfacing and breathing.
Every year, olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) gather off the coast of India to breed. The females come ashore to lay eggs, while the males remain in the water.
Mysterious death of over a thousand turtles
According to foreign media reports, a shocking discovery was made on the coast of Tamil Nadu, India. In January of this year, over 1,100 dead olive ridley turtles were washed ashore. This unusual occurrence has concerned environmentalists, who suspect that the cause might be fishermen not adhering to regulations. Authorities have decided to strengthen patrols in the region.
As reported by "The Guardian," Professor Kuppusamy Sivakumar from Pondicherry University notes that the number of dead reptiles has been increasing over the past three decades. Preliminary investigations of the turtles showed changes in their lungs, suggesting that the reptiles may have suffocated from being unable to reach the surface to breathe after being trapped in fishing nets.
Environmental activist Yuvan Aves points out that many of the dead turtles are males. He reminds that local regulations prohibit the use of trawlers within five nautical miles of the shore, but this law is often not followed.
Authorities investigate the matter
After the issue was highlighted by the media, the authorities in Tamil Nadu took action. Twenty-four trawlers operating illegally in the area were tracked. Special patrols have also been introduced to monitor compliance by fishermen.
Ranger Manish Meena emphasizes that night patrols have been intensified to protect young turtles. The mass deaths of these animals, which were once endangered, raise serious concerns among environmentalists. "You can stand on the coast right now anywhere in Chennai and every few strides, you can see bulge-eyed turtles till the horizon," states Yuvan Aves.
Recently, a similar situation, but on a smaller scale, occurred in Bangladesh.
