Saturday, 20 May 2017

Release of Rehabilitated Sea Turtles

TREE Foundation’s Rescue and Rehabilitation team in the months of December to April every year receives many calls of stranded turtles along the coast. TREE Foundation’s Rescue and Rehabilitation centre at Neelankarai is run with special permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden, Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Punarvi, a large mature female adult Olive Ridley Turtle and Besant Sir, a large mature male adult Olive Ridley Turtle were released off the coast of Periya Neelankarai on May 7th 2017 in the presence of Dr. (Ms). B. Meenakumari, Chairperson, National Biodiversity Authority, The Forest Range Officer and Mr Timuri N Murari, students, volunteers, Sea Turtle Protection Force Members and members from TREE Foundation.


The turtles were taken by boat 3km off shore and released near the rock formation where a wide variety of prey fish are always found. This was in order to make it easy for them to feed and readjust to the open ocean once again. Dr. B. Meenakumari, Chairperson, National Biodiversity Authority said” I am happy to see the community members involved in the conservation work and hope that the Turtle Excluder Device would be used by the fishermen, so that the turtles could escape safely and be out of danger and injuries”. Dr. Supraja Dharini, Chairperson, TREE Foundation said, “seeing them return to the ocean and knowing the challenges they will face can be a very bittersweet feeling. Rehabilitating injured turtles calls for more volunteers, if you wish to assist in their rehabilitation or to contribute towards their care and medical requirements please contact: 94443 06411 or email treerootsandshoots@gmail.com



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