Kendrapara: A large number of Olive Ridley sea turtle carcasses were found scattered along Habalikhati beach within the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, one of the world’s largest nesting grounds for the endangered species, during the ongoing nesting season.
Instead of witnessing the arrival of thousands of turtles for nesting, the beaches are now marked by distressing scenes of turtle deaths, allegedly caused by illegal fishing activities.
Fishermen are reportedly venturing into restricted waters in mechanised trawlers to catch fish, leading to the accidental killing of turtles that become entangled in fishing nets.
Hundreds of carcasses were reportedly spotted along the sandy stretches of Habalikhati and nearby coastal areas inside the sanctuary. The situation has been further aggravated as stray dogs and wild boars were seen feeding on the decomposing carcasses, creating a foul smell.
Actual number of turtle deaths may be significantly higher than what has been officially reported by the Forest Department.
According to established guidelines, carcasses of dead turtles must be buried promptly to prevent environmental hazards. However, several carcasses remain unattended on the beaches, raising questions about monitoring and response mechanisms in the protected zone.
The endangered Olive Ridley sea turtle is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which provides the highest level of legal protection to wildlife species in the country. These turtles, which typically grow up to around 75 centimetres in length, inhabit tropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
Between December and March, thousands of turtles gather near Odisha’s coast for mass nesting, a phenomenon known as Arribada, where large numbers of females come ashore simultaneously to lay eggs.
This remarkable natural event takes place along the beaches of the Gahirmatha sanctuary under the Bhitarkanika National Park. Many turtles die each year after getting trapped in fishing nets of mechanised boats that allegedly operate illegally in the restricted zone during the breeding season.
