Chennai: Two Olive Ridley turtles return to sea post rehabilitation

Chennai: The Neelankarai beach witnessed a heartrending sight here on Sunday as two Olive Ridley turtles were let back into the sea.  More than a year after they were rescued, TREE foundation nursed them back to health and released them into the ocean.

Nicknamed Purnavi, the turtle was spotted at Perundhuravu off Mamallapuram in Kancheepuram district on February 26, 2015 by TREE. She was suffering from a deep cut of her snout and a severe injury to the left front side of her carapace due to a probable interaction with the propeller of a boat. It took four months of intensive care and two years of recuperation for it to heal.

Another mature male turtle, fondly called Besant, suffered from a deep cut in his right hind flipper, cataract in left eye and there was no right front flipper present. “The turtles were left three kms off the shore inhabiting a wide variety of fish for easy prey and to enable them to readjust to the ocean,” said Supraja Dharini, chairperson, TREE foundation.

Flipper injuries, carapace injuries, extreme dehydration and entanglement in fishing nets and buoys are problems encountered by turtles admitted this year. They have been taken to Tamil Nadu Veterinary College for thorough examination of internal injuries after which they are placed in saltwater tanks. The turtles fed on fish, squid, crabs and shrimp.  

“I am happy to see community members involved in the conservation work and hope that the Turtle Excluder Device would be used by the fishermen so that the turtles could escape safely and be out of danger and injuries,” Dr B. Meenakumari, Chairperson, National Biodiversity Authority, said.

TREE Foundation has asked people to inform them about injured turtles as the creatures find it difficult to survive in the wild without their flippers as finding food becomes almost impossible.