Olive Ridley Turtles

Garuda Aerospace to deploy drones along Chennai coast to protect turtles

Drone manufacturer Garuda Aerospace would deploy its drones free of cost over the next three months, to take up surveillance along the city's coastline, to protect the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles, the company said. The initiative comes in the backdrop of over 300 such turtles were found dead in recent times in Chennai coastal region. The plan aims to support the conservation efforts by combating illegal fishing practices. In a statement on Sunday, Garuda Aerospace said it was partnering with the Tree Foundation and the department of Forest and fisheries for this operation. "We are deeply concerned by the recent mass deaths of Olive Ridley turtles. The plight of the turtles demand immediate action and long-term solutions. By deploying our drones free of charge for the next three months, we are directly intervening to protect the nesting sites, deter illegal fishing and give these hatchlings a chance at survival," said Garuda Aerospace CEO Agnishwar Jayaprakash. "We believe t

Fishing ban along Odisha coast begins for Olive Ridley turtle protection

The Odisha government on Friday enforced a seven-month-long prohibition on sea fishing activity within 20 km of the coast at the river mouths of Dhamara, Devi and Rusikulya as part of the annual Olive Ridley turtle conservation programme, officials said. The fishing ban would remain effective from November 1May 31 to ensure the safety of marine animals during their breeding and mating season, they said. The ban has been clamped in accordance with Sections 2, 7 and 4 of the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA), 1982 and provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, they said. The fishing ban imposed along a specified coast of the sea comprising sea turtle congregation area and their buffer zones at the river mouths of Dhamara, Devi and Rusikulya. The prohibition will be strictly implemented as it is done every year as the turtles perish in larger numbers either by getting entangled in fishing nets or hit by fishing trawlers' propellers. It will be a multi-layered patroll

Over 300,000 Olive Ridley turtles reach Gahirmatha beach for mass nesting

More than three lakhs Olive Ridley turtles have so far reached Gahirmatha beach, the world's largest rookery of the marine reptile species, in Odisha's Kendrapara district to lay eggs this time, an official said on Saturday. Mass nesting of the turtles started on Thursday night on Nasi-II beach of Gahirmatha, he said. "According to our counting, 2,14,058 turtles laid eggs on Thursday and 88,605 more arrived for mass nesting in the next day. Over 3 lakh turtles have turned up on Gahirmatha beach since March 9," the official said. Last year, more than five lakh Olive Ridley turtles had arrived at Gahirmatha to lay eggs. "This year's count is likely to cross that of the previous season," Gahirmatha forest range officer Bichitranda Behera said. The Rushikulya coast, another mass nesting site of the marine reptile, in Ganjam district, witnessed a record number of over 6.37 lakh Olive Ridley sea turtles arriving there for mass nesting in eight days from February 23 this year. "We are .

How turtle conservation led to protection for other species in Odisha

People in Odisha's coastal Ganjam district, home to a world-renowned community conservation effort to protect endangered Olive Ridley turtles, are extending that legacy to conserve other species

Meet Afroz Shah, who helped bring turtles back to Mumbai's beaches

About 13 million kg of marine debris have been collected over 127 weeks by Shah and thousands of volunteers