Kundapura: Volunteer groups forefront in protection of sea turtles

Kundapura: Sea turtles eggs were frequently sighted on the beaches in Kundapur, Byndoor, Honnavar and Karwar taluks in the last few months. The conservation of these eggs was done by many voluntary organizations under the guidance of the Forest Department by building temporary hatcheries on the beach.

Sea turtles that were stranded on the beach at Karkikali in Gopadi were rescued and returned to the sea by FSL India and Reef Watch voluntary organisations. The locals had rescued a sea turtle, that was injured and lying weak on the beach at Kirimangeshwara and Maravanthe. A huge sea turtle found with an injured leg in Kodi was cared for by experts from Reef Watch. Two volunteers, Karthik and Nagraj of Sriram Friends in Manur Padukere rescued two huge sea turtles that were trapped in an old fishing net thrown in the sea.

Sea turtles mostly choose to lay their eggs only in clean and soft sand. For this purpose, Kodi beach has been cleaned and developed. The Clean Kundapur team has been cleaning the beach for the past 100 weeks.

The Kundapur-based FSL India has been formulating a continuous programme for the survival of endangered sea turtles for many years.

Dr Shantanu’s The Reef Watch, based in Bengaluru, is involved in the conservation of wildlife and has also extended services for the conservation of marine life.

“We all have a responsibility to conserve sea turtles that make a big contribution in the development of fish breeding. By making the sea and beach waste-free, we have to do the work of saving this rare creature for the next generation,” said Dinesh Sarang, an FSL India volunteer.

“Throwing used nets into the sea can make the sea turtles stuck in them and risk death. Restrictions should be imposed on fishing nets from being thrown into the sea,” said Tejaswini, a volunteer of Reef Watch.