Thu Jan 16 19:39:15 UTC 2025: ## Hundreds of Sea Turtles Found Dead on Chennai Coast; High-Level Review Meeting Scheduled

**Chennai, January 17, 2025** – A large-scale die-off of Olive Ridley sea turtles along the Chennai coast has prompted authorities to schedule a high-level review meeting for January 20. The meeting, likely chaired by Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam, will address the alarming number of dead turtles washing ashore.

Over 150 dead turtles have been discovered between Marina Beach and Neelankarai, with nearly 200 more found further south in Chengalpattu, marking a significantly higher mortality rate than in previous years. Approximately 80 carcasses were found along the East Coast Road (ECR) alone.

Preliminary post-mortems suggest the turtles had been dead for at least three days, showing signs of drowning. The advanced state of decomposition hindered a precise determination of the cause of death. A similar increase in turtle deaths has been reported in Pulicat.

Chennai Wildlife Warden Manish Meena stated that the Fisheries Department and Coast Guard have been alerted. One suspected cause is entanglement in large fishing nets used for squid and cuttlefish, which can trap the turtles and prevent them from surfacing for air. The Forest Department will educate fishermen in Kovalam and Kalpakkam on the risks associated with these nets. District forest officers in Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu have also been notified. The Forest Department will also review current awareness initiatives.

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