Three olive ridley turtles found dead on Vizag coast during nesting season

The carcasses of three adult olive ridley turtles were discovered on the shores of Muthyalammapalem, Thantadi, and Rajanapalem on Sunday, sparking worries among wildlife enthusiasts during the ongoing nesting season along the Visakhapatnam coast. Forest officials suspect the turtles drowned after getting entangled in fishing nets, possibly while migrating.

Experts emphasize that olive ridley turtles need to surface every 40 to 45 minutes to breathe and can drown if trapped underwater. They are calling for stricter enforcement of the Andhra Pradesh Marine Fishing Regulation Act, particularly to prevent illegal fishing within eight kilometers of the shoreline.

The Forest Department plans to establish four nesting zones next week and is working with The Tree Foundation to operate four hatcheries along the coast. Conservationists are also concerned about artificial lighting along the coast, especially near RK Beach, and suggest reducing bright night lighting to create safer nesting conditions.

Visakhapatnam District Forest Officer Ravindra Dhama stated that special precautions will be taken during the Visakha Utsav from January 23 to 31 to ensure nesting turtles are not disturbed. The Andhra Pradesh coastline is a crucial breeding and nesting ground for olive ridley turtles, listed as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.