Bhubaneswar: Numerous carcasses of Olive Ridley sea turtles surfaced along the beach at many places between Satapada and the mouth of Devi river in Odisha’s Puri district on Sunday.
What was more shocking is that stray dogs and other animals were seen feasting on the dead turtles.
In another incident, the carcass of a huge turtle was found on Neeladri beach in Puri on Sunday. According to eyewitnesses, the 3.5 feet long and 2.5 feet wide turtle weighed approximately 50 kg. The turtle had deep wound on its body with blood oozing out.
It is apprehended that the turtle might have been killed after being hit by a trawler operating in the sea. In fact, such incidents have become common sights along the Puri beach, locals said.
As the local administration failed to remove the carcasses from the beach promptly, the condition there became unhygienic marked by foul smell.
It is worth mentioning here that the Olive Ridley visit Gahirmatha at the mouth of rivers Devi and Rushikulya in Odisha coast for annual nesting.
Despite the prohibition on fishing in 20 km distance from the beach, trawler operators undertake fishing illegally there.
