Dead Olive Ridley Turtles on Tamilnadu Beaches

Table of Contents

Context

In recent times a significant number of olive ridley turtles have been found dead along the Tamil Nadu coast, especially around Chennai.

Potential Causes of Death

Bycatch from Fishing Nets:
- Olive ridley turtles get trapped in fishing nets of commercial trawlers during mating, leading to asphyxiation due to difficulty reaching the surface for air.
Signs of Suffocation:
- Post-mortems show lung lesions and swollen necks, indicating drowning and suffocation.
Lack of Protective Measures:
- The absence of turtle-excluding devices (TEDs) in fishing nets contributes to higher turtle mortality rates.

About Olive Ridley Sea Turtles

They are the 2nd smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
- Smallest sea turtle in the world: Kemp’s ridley sea turtle.
- Largest Sea turtle: Leatherback Turtle
Features:
- They are known for unique arribadas (synchronised mass nestings), where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
- Females nest every year and produce up to 100 eggs.
- Males and females grow to the same size, but females have a slightly more rounded carapace.
- They are omnivorous, meaning they feed on both plants and animals.
Distribution: Mainly found in warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
Major Sites in India:
- Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary: Located in the Kendrapara district of Odisha, this is the world’s largest nesting site for olive ridley turtles.
- Rushikulya Beach: Located in the Ganjam district of Odisha. The mouth of the Rushikulya River is the 2nd largest nesting site for olive ridley turtles in India.
- Velas Beach, Versova Beach & Tarkli Beach (Maharashtra)
Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1
- CITES: Appendix I

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