Mon Feb 03 15:38:44 UTC 2025: ## Chennai Sees Hopeful Sign in Olive Ridley Turtle Nesting After Mass Deaths
**Chennai, February 3, 2025** – A recent surge in Olive Ridley sea turtle deaths along the Chennai and Chengalpattu coasts has shown a glimmer of hope with the discovery of eleven new nests in the past two days. The nests, located between Marina beach and Kovalam, mark a significant increase in nesting activity this season.
This positive development follows the discovery of over 1,200 dead Olive Ridley turtles since January. While the number of carcasses found has slightly decreased, experts believe that accidental entanglement in trawl nets during sea-based congregation is a primary cause.
Wildlife biologist R. Suresh Kumar of the Wildlife Institute of India highlighted the turtles’ tendency to congregate in specific areas, suggesting that fishing practices within these zones may be the key factor contributing to the high mortality rate this year. His research in Odisha supports this theory.
Further bolstering conservation efforts, a joint patrol intercepted a trawler with 16 live turtles caught in its net just 5 nautical miles from shore. The turtles were released, and the trawler was booked under relevant acts.
The discovery of two turtles nesting at Marina beach on Sunday, witnessed by the Wildlife Warden and conservation volunteers, is viewed as a positive sign. “This gives us hope that things will improve,” stated Manish Meena, Wildlife Warden of Chennai. The continued monitoring of nesting sites and enforcement of fishing regulations remain crucial to the turtles’ survival.
First Piper 