Critically Endangered And Protected Under Indian Wildlife Protection Act

The Olive Ridley sea turtle nesting season is from January to May. Tree Foundation and the AP Forest Derpartment are conducting the joint Sea Turtle Community Based conservationprogram in  Nellore District form TP Gudur Mandalam to Kavali Mandalam involving the local fishing community youth in the daily morning and night patrolling of beaches to identify the nesting turtles eggs. 

A Leatherback turtle washed ashore on 6th January 2013, at Utukur, Vidavalur Mandalam, Nellore District. This is the first recording of as stranded Leatherback sea turtle in Nellore and along the South Indian coast in the last 60 years.V. Radhakrishna, TREE Foundation’s Sea Turtle Protection Force member, saw a injured and dead leatherback sea turtle. It is the first recording of a leatherback turtle along Nellore coast. 

The turtle measured 62 inches from head to tail. Its front flipper length was23.5 inches and its back flipper was14 inches.The turtle weighed approximately around 200 kgs. It took 6 persons to lift the turtle said Dr Supraja Dharini, Chariperson of Tree Foundation during the data collection. The leatherback turtles are the largest of all sea turtles measuring up to 8 feet in length and can weigh up to 450 kgs.

 They have a very important role in the marine ecosystem. The turtle feeds largely on jelly fish, thus keeping the population of jelly fish in control. In India they nest only along the Andaman and Nicobar coasts. The DFO of Nellore Mr N Nageshwara Rao S.F.S and   ACF, Mr C.H. Nagabhushanam S.F.S, Kavali Range came to the beach and made a detailed enquiry with the local fishermen on the cause of such injuries, to the turtle and all the turtles in the ocean. 

The leatherback sea turtles are critically endangered and are protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act  of 1972.under Schedule I part II. Dr. Supraja Dharini, the Founder and Chairperson of Tree Foundation is also the Country Head for Dr Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots India and the member-Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Hospital Management Committee. Tree Foundation office is located at No-5/25, Blue Beach Road, Neelankarai, Chennai. For details contact 9444052242 and visit www:treefoundationindia.org