Chennai:
The olive ridley turtles are back and fishermen have sighted them four
to five kilometer away from the shore as conservators are preparing a
strategy to protect the nesting turtles along the coastline.
Last year, we lost nearly 852 turtles along the Chennai-Kancheepuram
stretch and this year we are evolving a strategy to protect the
turtles, says Tree Foundation chairperson Supraja Dharini.
The breeding season of turtles have started and fishermen who are part
of sea turtle conservation programme have sighted turtles mating about
4 to 5km from shore, says Dharini, who organized 14th Annual Sea
Turtle Protection Force Empowerment and Training Programme to
highlight the importance and the ecological role of sea turtles and
the need to protect them.
The workshop was attended by turtle conservators from fishing
community, forest department, home guards, coastal security police as
well as fisheries department. Rama Khant Ojha Principal Chief
Conservator of Forests, Tamil Nadu Biodiversity and Greening Project,
besides David Raj, Forest Range Officer, Chennai Circle also
participated in the event.
“We expect the turtles to nest from beginning of next year,” she said.
She also claims that fishermen in Alamparai has already sighted a
nesting turtle.
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