MUMBAI: Conservationists and wildlife experts are understandably worried about the massive decline in the mass nesting colonies of Olive Ridley turtles. In 2008–09, there were as many as 155 turtle nests on beaches across the state's coastline, from which 7,884 hatchlings were released back into the sea. The previous year, 161 turtle nesting spots were recorded. This time around, however, barely 55 nests have been found.
Vishwas Katdare, secretary of Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra, an NGO that is working on a turtle conservation project, said: "Between November and March, hundreds of turtles arrive on the coast for mass nesting. By March, many of the eggs hatch and we help release the hatchlings back into the sea. This year, however, there are only 55 nests on the entire coastline, which is a major drop in numbers as compared to previous years." The turtle conservation project is sponsored by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and covers nearly 30 coastal villages in the state.
Every year, naturalists and wildlife experts look forward to the arrival of hundreds of Olive Ridley turtles—a Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
The mass nesting takes place across beaches at Harihareshwar, Dabhol, Velas, Kelshi and Diveagar among others.
What's worrying experts is that there is little sign of the large herds of turtles along the state's 720-odd km coastline.
Though no scientific study is being carried out on the alarming drop, conservationists believe the cause could be Cyclone Phyan that hit the coast of Maharashtra last year. "The disturbance caused in the sea due to the cyclone could have affected their migration patterns," said Katdare. Other threats include poaching and high mortality rates due to coastal fisheries. "Such a drastic change in the breeding pattern of turtles has never been observed," Katdare added.
There are seven sea turtle species in the world, of which five are found in India. These include Green turtles (Chelonia mydas), Leather-Back turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), Loggerhead Sea turtles (Caretta caretta), Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Olive Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea).
