DNA Westcoast Mumbai, Friday, 4th July, 2008.
Rare turtle sunbathes on Juhu beach
Aarti Kini
A rare sight welcomed those taking a stroll on Juhu beach when they spotted a 35-year-old Olive Ridley Turtle weighing 45 kilograms sunbathing on July 2 Wednesday. These are rare species with an estimated 8,00,000 nesting females all over the world. It is said that the main reason for the decline of Olive Ridley sea turtle is long term collection of eggs and killing of the adult turtles.S Kanojia, president, Sea Guardian Life Guards, said, “This turtle had come to the shore on Wednesday at around 9-9.20 in the morning. We have now sent it to the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), which is a hospital for animals in Parel. This is an Olive Ridley turtle which is usually one and a half to two feet long and weighs around 40 to 45 kilograms; we found an adult turtle which is approximately 30 to thirty five years old.”He said, “We thought this turtle had come here for laying eggs so we searched the whole beach till late evening but could not find any. So we can say that the turtle must have come here to have a sunbath or in search of good water and better habitat.”The Ridley turtles are usually so big that they can’t be caught in a net but this turtle was said to be caught in a net. “These are very big turtles and cannot be caught in a net; they have very sharp teeth and they can just tear off the net if caught. They have such big mouth that they can swallow your hand if you put it inside the mouth,” he explained.Talking about other animals coming on the shore, Kanojia said, “In the past one week we have found six of these turtles, five of which went back to where they had come from and this one has been sent to SPCA. It has almost been a decade since these turtles have come here. We did find some small turtles that were just out of the egg ten years ago, which showed that these animals were on the shore. We had also found a dolphin, which is said to be of very rare species.”Discussing the reasons for such animals being found on the shore, Kanojia said, “There must be a lot for reasons for such incidences. They might be trying to migrate to our side in search of good water and better habitat, finding space for laying eggs or just sunbathing.” He said, “The exact reason cannot always be defined. Even if we send our men for knowing the exact location of these animals we will not be able to do so because of the bad weather conditions.”k_aarti@dnaindia.netLife guards of Sea Guardian, Laxman Mangela and Mahesh Mangela, with the Olive Ridely Turtle on Juhu beach —B L Soni
Rare turtle sunbathes on Juhu beach
Aarti Kini
A rare sight welcomed those taking a stroll on Juhu beach when they spotted a 35-year-old Olive Ridley Turtle weighing 45 kilograms sunbathing on July 2 Wednesday. These are rare species with an estimated 8,00,000 nesting females all over the world. It is said that the main reason for the decline of Olive Ridley sea turtle is long term collection of eggs and killing of the adult turtles.S Kanojia, president, Sea Guardian Life Guards, said, “This turtle had come to the shore on Wednesday at around 9-9.20 in the morning. We have now sent it to the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), which is a hospital for animals in Parel. This is an Olive Ridley turtle which is usually one and a half to two feet long and weighs around 40 to 45 kilograms; we found an adult turtle which is approximately 30 to thirty five years old.”He said, “We thought this turtle had come here for laying eggs so we searched the whole beach till late evening but could not find any. So we can say that the turtle must have come here to have a sunbath or in search of good water and better habitat.”The Ridley turtles are usually so big that they can’t be caught in a net but this turtle was said to be caught in a net. “These are very big turtles and cannot be caught in a net; they have very sharp teeth and they can just tear off the net if caught. They have such big mouth that they can swallow your hand if you put it inside the mouth,” he explained.Talking about other animals coming on the shore, Kanojia said, “In the past one week we have found six of these turtles, five of which went back to where they had come from and this one has been sent to SPCA. It has almost been a decade since these turtles have come here. We did find some small turtles that were just out of the egg ten years ago, which showed that these animals were on the shore. We had also found a dolphin, which is said to be of very rare species.”Discussing the reasons for such animals being found on the shore, Kanojia said, “There must be a lot for reasons for such incidences. They might be trying to migrate to our side in search of good water and better habitat, finding space for laying eggs or just sunbathing.” He said, “The exact reason cannot always be defined. Even if we send our men for knowing the exact location of these animals we will not be able to do so because of the bad weather conditions.”k_aarti@dnaindia.netLife guards of Sea Guardian, Laxman Mangela and Mahesh Mangela, with the Olive Ridely Turtle on Juhu beach —B L Soni
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