Indus Valley Times

By Satchidananda Bhutia

Kendrapara, Jan 10: The Odisha government welcomes the sports lovers from across the world to the state with Olly (Olive Ridley turtles) as the mascot of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 which begins on January 13. Shockingly, it seems to be faltering to some extent to prevent the death of this endangered species as many of the turtles visiting the Odisha coast to lay eggs get killed because of human interventions.

The mascot Olly aims at raising awareness about the Olive Ridley turtle as the number of this aquatic species is on decline. Reports from Kendrapara said, despite introducing various awareness programmes involving fishermen, trawler owners and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for the safety of these critically endangered marine creatures, there is a rise in the mortality rate of mating turtles along the coast. The turtles were allegedly getting killed because of illegal fishing by some dishonest fishermen in the prohibited zone.

“Nearly two lakh Olive Ridley turtles have been killed in the Odisha coast in the last 20 years. Patrolling activity is not being intensified at the nesting grounds. Other enforcement activities are also not up to the mark, resulting in the rise in the death of the guest turtles that come as far as from the Pacific Ocean to lay eggs here,” said noted green activist Dr Biswajit Mohanty.

Lakhs of Olive Ridley turtles turn up at the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary and Devi and Rushikulya river mouths every for mass nesting. Although the state government bans fishing by motorised vessels and trawlers within 20 km of the shore along Devi, Dhamra, and Rushikulya river mouths from November to May which is considered the nesting season of the turtles, the turtles get killed due to illegal mechanized fishing

The forest department claimed that the state has witnessed a drop in the number of deaths of Olive Ridley turtles this year compared to past few years.

Uttam Gadanayak, a senior forest officer posted in Puri said “Forest officials on deputation basis are keeping a close watch on trawler movement to check the menace. Compared to the last few years, Odisha has registered fewer deaths of Olive Ridley turtles this year.”