Nearly nine Olive Ridley sea turtles were found dead on the shores of Injambakkam, Chennai, on Saturday. The carcasses were spotted by a resident of Rajiv Avenue, who alerted the Forest Department. Officials promptly arrived at the scene to inspect the remains.
Chennai Wildlife Warden Manish Meena said the team would decide whether a post-mortem was necessary after assessing the carcasses.
Sources revealed that over 100 turtles had been washed ashore the Chennai coastline since December, a number typically recorded in the entire nesting season from December to April. Additionally, the number of nests spotted this season so far remains low, raising concerns among conservationists.
The Olive Ridley turtles — listed as vulnerable under the International Union for Conservation of Nature — nest along the Chennai coastline every year, making the conservation of this species crucial.
Even as the total number of deaths this season is yet to be confirmed, efforts to spread awareness have been in full swing, according to Mr. Meena.
On January 9, an awareness session was held, in collaboration with the Fisheries Department, to educate Ennore fishermen on rescuing turtles caught in fishing gear.
He also highlighted the State-level sea turtle conservation workshop conducted on January 8, which involved Fisheries Department officials and the Indian Coast Guard.
Published – January 11, 2025 09:57 pm IST