At least 28 Olive Ridley sea turtle carcasses were discovered along the East Coast Road on January 12, following the death of nine turtles at Injambakkam the day before.
Of the 28 carcasses, eight were found at Injambakkam, and appeared to be older remains. The remaining were spotted along a one-kilometre stretch near Nemmeli Kuppam, a concerning number according to conservationists. These turtles also seemed to have been dead for some time.
A wildlife enthusiast, who spotted the carcasses at Nemmeli on the mornings of January 11 and 12, reported seeing four near the groynes at the beach, with several others nearby, half-buried in the sand. The Forest Department was notified on January 12.
Nemmeli Kuppam beach has groynes designed to mitigate sea erosion caused by the breakwater at the Nemmeli Seawater Desalination Plant. However, it remains unclear whether these structures may have affected the sea turtles.
Manish Meena, Wildlife Warden of Chennai, suggested that the turtles may have drowned after becoming entangled in fishing gear. He added that the Forest Department is working to raise awareness among fishermen, with a sensitisation session planned for trawl fishermen next week.
Shravan Krishnan of the Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary, who has been involved in sea turtle conservation for years, pointed out the lack of information on the specific locations where turtles encounter trawl or gill nets.
He noted that the recent deaths raise the possibility that multiple turtles may have been trapped in a single net. However, it remains unclear whether this occurred close to shore or at sea, potentially as far as 200 kilometers from where the carcasses washed up.
Mr. Meena explained that fishing gear could cause the turtles to enter a comatose state. As a result, even if fishermen remove the turtles and release them back into the sea, they may still die after a while. The turtles would then decompose, with their bodies eventually being consumed by other marine organisms, and eventually wash ashore.
The recent turtle mortality along the Chennai coast has raised concerns among conservationists, who note that the numbers are abnormally high, especially since the turtle nesting season — running from December to April — is not yet halfway through. However, Mr. Meena stated that it is difficult to confirm whether the mortality rate is truly unusual due to a lack of data from previous years. He further said that he had communicated with the Indian Coast Guard and the Fisheries Department, recommending increased patrols in turtle hotspots and stricter enforcement of fisheries regulations.
Published – January 13, 2025 12:40 am IST