Loading Flash Menu

 

Introduction: 

The Gahirmatha, Rushikullya and Devi river mouth of Odisha state is well known for world’s largest Olive Ridley sea turtle rookery. The Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys Olivacea), which nests along the Odisha coast, is highly endangered today. This species is especially known for its mass nesting or arribada when several thousands of turtles migrate to the breeding ground to mate and nest simultaneously. Although mass nesting or arribada takes place in three sites, the adjacent beaches of these places also contribute greatly through sporadic nesting of sea turtles. Olive Ridley Sea Turtles in Odisha represents about 50 % of its world population and 90% of the population of sea turtles along the Indian coast comes to Odisha coasts for nesting. 

 

These species are playing an important role in oceanic ecosystems by maintaining healthy ecosystems, sustainability of fisheries, sea grass beds and coral reefs, providing key habitat for other marine life, helping to balance marine food webs and facilitating nutrient cycling from water to land. Additionally, sea turtles represent a unique set of characteristics and essential species for critical ecological processes; and umbrellas, promoting the protection of large and/or critically important areas. Many of these habitats face mounting threats today. 

 

Struggling to Survive: 

The large-scale mortality of adult turtles every year in Odisha coast recorded during the study is a matter of utmost concern and need to be addressed immediately. Incidental mortality of Olive Ridleys is worst along the coast of Odisha; with arribada Olive Ridleys gathering to nest were unsustainable fishing effort is high. Since last 10 years, thousands or tens of thousands of Olive Ridleys have stranded dead on the Odisha beaches, presumably as a result of incidental capture in shrimp trawls.  Apart from fishing related mortality, turtles face multifarious problems while they are in the coastal waters of Odisha. The polluted beaches make unsuitable for turtles to nests, the high predation by feral animals are hindrance in the recruitment of offspring and moreover, the anthropogenic activities are harmful for habitat and breeding of turtles. To counter the high mortality rate (to predators) and low survival rate (one in a thousand), these gentle creatures have been pushed towards the brink of extinction. This species has also classified in the Red Data Book of the IUCN (The world conservation union) as endangered, and they are included on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). 

 

 

To read about these reports in the press, please click in the following links

 

1. Olive Ridley turtles fall prey to trawlers           

2. Endangered Olive Ridley sea turtle carcasses found in Odisha coast  

3. Experts Identify World’s Most Threatened Sea Turtle Populations      

4. More Olive Ridley turtle carcasses found

 

 

APOWA’s Action:  

Over the years, APOWA (Action for Protection of Wild Animals) has been saving, protecting and conserve the endangered sea turtles and their habitat along the Odisha coast. With our sustained campaign, commitment and extreme persuasion combined strongly with field protection, networking with other conservation organizations and stakeholders, comprehensive innovative awareness and education campaigns in nesting sites and adjacent villages. We have the skills, knowledge and experience to be Odisha’s sea turtle champion.  Presently, APOWA’s activities each nesting season (starts from November 1 to ends on May 30 every year) include:

 

1. In-situ Conservation and Direct protection of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles: 

 Monitoring of nesting turtles along the coastline

 Protecting nests and nesting beaches. 

 Protecting nesting females from predatory hazards.

 Protecting from human poachers and human interferences.

 Protection and rescue of baby turtles, hatchlings.

2. Community involvement in the conservation programme: To form, train and dedicate volunteer of the community to take up monitoring and protection of nesting beaches, eggs, and protection of hatchlings on the beach from disorientation within their respective geographic locality. To enhance effective patrols and protection of sea turtles through monitoring units formed in nesting sites. 

3. Cleaning of beach debris from nesting habitat: The nesting beach cleaning programme has been conducted each year at the beginning of the sea turtle breeding season.

4. Community Awareness and Education Programme: Sea turtle awareness has been created in the coastal villages of nesting sites.

5. Sea Turtle Education Program in Schools: Students and teachers play a key role in helping sea turtle populations recover.  The school outreach program is help teachers and students (and through them, their families) not only learn about sea turtles, but to inspire involvement in conservation efforts.   

6. Sustained campaigning with mechanized and trawler associations for the use of TED (Turtle Excluder Devices): We have been creating awareness among the fisheries communities regarding uses of TED.   They have been sensitized the need of turtle for a balanced eco system in the sea.

7. Alternative livelihood for traditional fisheries communities: APOWA focuses on providing alternatives to the fisheries communities during nesting season, skill development and capacity building on sustainable use of coastal resources. 

8. Scientific Research on the Sea Turtles: 

 

To read more activities of APOWA, click here

 

 

Strategy: 

Since most of the activities and strategies are community led, communities are playing a significant role in this process by providing timely inputs, contribution in kind, involvement in monitoring, associate with protection team for sea turtle and their habitat conservation. Community led conservation of sea turtles and their habitats are ensuring their ownership and sustain their association. This well-considered innovative model directly engages local community participation in sea turtle and their habitat conservation programme. Our programme is involve local people and fishermen communities in conservation and at the same time to provide opportunities, facilities, and develop their capacity and to increase their knowledge in order to reduce the dependency pressure on heavily exploited coastal natural resources in Odisha. The most important component in this project activity is the involvement of fishermen community as conservationists. 

 

Monthly Activities Report: November, 2011

1. Awareness Camp for Fishermen Folk at Talchua, Rajnagar on 30th October, 2011

The Director of APOWA, Shri Bijaya Kabi has been participated as a resource person in awareness camp for fishermen at Talchua near Gahiramatha sea turtle rookery organized by Mangrove forest (WL) Division, Rajnagar. There 158 fishermen (both traditional and trawler owners) have been attended the camp. 

2. Turtle Action Group Workshop at Chennai ( 12th and 13th November, 2011) 

Two representatives from APOWA have been participated in Turtle Action Group’s annual field training workshop from 12th November to 13th November, 2011 at Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Chennai. Turtle Action Group (TAG) is nation-wide network of Sea Turtle conservation organizations. APOWA is one of the members of the network since 2008. 

3. Community Awareness Porgramme at Suniti on 20th November, 2011

APOWA has been organized a community awareness programme at Suniti village of Mahakalpara block on 20th November, 2011. Suniti is a marine fishing village adjacent to Gahirmatha mass nesting site. There 42 fishermen participated in the programme.  The community awareness programme, through which fishermen were informed about the plight of the Olive Ridley sea turtles and how they can utilize their habitats without disturbing turtles. We have created awareness among fisheries communities that the mechanized boats and modernized nets have not only endangered to the sea turtles but also the livelihood of local artisan fishing community. We have been making aware about uses of TED (Turtle Excluder Devices) in their nets. Excess fishing by trawlers significantly reduces the fish stock in their parts. They have been sensitized the need of turtle for a balanced eco system in the sea. 

 

4. Promotion of Alternative Livelihood for fishermen communities: 

We have been promoting kitchen gardening in marine fishing villages through provide of vegetable seeds and training to communities. We have been providing skill development training and creating best sustainable alternative livelihood for fishermen affected due to fishing ban in turtle season.  In the month of November, 2011, we have been provided vegetable seeds to Suniti, Bhateni, Narasinghpur and Kaitala villages under Mahakalpara block and Badkot, Khirkot and Pentha under Rajnagar block of Kendrapara district. These villages are situated near Gahirmatha marine sanctuary. 

5. Nesting Beach Patrolling : 

The nesting beach patrolling is one of the important parts of our initiative. Our team members along with sea turtle protection committee members of Siali, Jagatsinghpur have been carried out nesting beach patrolling in each day. The teams are documenting the beach profile, counting the turtle carcasses monitoring of nesting etc in beach surveys. 

 

To read our last year 2010-2011 activities report, click here.  TURTLE ACTIVITIES REPORT 2010-11

 

Help us help Sea Turtles: 

Sea turtles, the great survivors from the time of the dinosaurs, now need our help in today’s sea of threats posed by humans make their long term survival uncertain. Due to habitat destruction, these beautiful species are on the verge of extinction. You can be part of the solution by supporting Action for Protection of Wild Animals (APOWA). APOWA is a registered non profit organization that relies on community support. All the donations to our organization are tax exempted. 

 

Spread the word: Please Share this page via Facebook, email or your blog as we'll.  Together, we can make a difference.

 

Conservation Partnership Proposal:  

Action for Protection of Wild Animals is inviting partners to support our “Community based sea turtle and their habitat conservation programme” in Odisha, which provides desperately needed conservation programmes, nest and habitat protection as well as vital community education and fishermen alternative livelihood progarmme that will reduce impacts on highly endangered sea turtle populations and improve community well-being at the world's largest Olive Ridley nesting sites of the region. 

 

Please partner with APOWA on our project of scientific research, education, and action that protects and conserves sea turtles and creating alternative livelihood for fishermen affected due to fishing ban. 

 

Please contact us for more details: 

 

Action for Protection of Wild Animals (APOWA) 

At-Hatapatana, P.O.-Kadaliban, Dist.-Kendrapara, Odisha

Pin-754222, India

Tel-+916729 221908, E-mail: turtle@apowa.org , apowa1999@yahoo.co.in  

Website: www.apowa.org/www.apowa.org.in 

 

 

 

 

    More Photos