60 dead turtles wash up on Orissa beach

The carcasses of at least 60 Olive Ridley turtles – that in all likelihood fell victim to fishing trawlers – have been spotted on an Orissa beach in the past 20 days, a senior state wildlife official said Wednesday.

The dead turtles were spotted at various places between the mouths of the Devi and Dhamra rivers. Some carcasses were also spotted near the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary – one of the world”s largest turtle nesting sites – in Kendrapada district, some 174 km from here, officials said.

The turtles were most probably washed ashore after being killed by fishing trawlers, he said.

While more than half a million endangered Olive Ridley turtles nest every winter at Gahirmatha coast, they also come to the other two beaches, though in smaller numbers… Read Full Article