Marine turtles in trouble on Cox's Bazar coastline

COX'S BAZAR, Feb 01: Existence of the marine turtles is under threat in the Bay of Bengal as deaths of the amphibians in a large number within a short span of time have come as a pressing concern for the oceanographers and environmentalists.

The nearest quarters are in grave concern for the frequent incidents of dead turtles washing up ashore on the Cox's Bazar sea beach in the recent time.

Sources said in just last one week, as many as 86 turtles were spotted dead

along the Cox's Bazar coastline, with most of them having injury marks on their bodies. The 86 dead turtles recovered by the Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute at a time ranging from January 24 to 30 were mostly olive-coloured or of Olive Ridley species.

Of them, two dead turtles were recovered from Saint Martin's Island on Thursday (January 30).

Mohammad Shimul Bhuiyan, scientific officer at the Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI), confirmed the matter.

He said 84 dead turtles have been recovered from the coastal area in the last one week. It is believed that these turtles died in the last two months. Many turtle skeletons have been found on the beach for the last few days.

All the dead turtles are of the Olive Ridley species and they include both males and females, he added.

Although it is not possible to confirm the reason for the deaths of the reptiles, scientific officer Mohammad Shimul Bhuiyan, citing information from locals, said, "The breeding season for sea turtles is from November to March. During this time, turtles come to the coast to lay eggs. These turtles may have died by getting caught in fishermen's nets or being hit by large boats moving in the sea, or coming under attacks by dogs while coming to lay eggs on the coast."

An investigation is underway to find out the real causes of the deaths of the turtles, the BORI official said further.

According to the BORI, at least 29 dead turtles were found on Sonadia, Himchhari, Sonarpara, Inani and Teknaf beaches along the Cox's Bazar coastline from January to February 20 in 2024.

During this period, three dead dolphins and one dead parakeet also washed ashore.

Nature Conservation Management (NCOM), an organisation working on conservation of nature and environment, says that sea turtles are now in great danger. More than 10 years ago, a survey by the organisation in 2003 found that 52 mother sea turtles would come to lay their eggs at these points. At that time, these points were very safe for mother turtles.

HM Faridul Alam Shahin, general secretary of the Cox's Bazar district unit of Dhoritri Rokhay Amra (Dhara), said every year during the breeding season, dead turtles are found on the beach. Marks of injury are also seen on the bodies of these turtles. When they get caught in fishing nets in the sea, fishermen beat them with sticks or use sharp knives or weapons to kill these creatures and throw them into the sea.

Again, when the turtles float to the shore during the tide, dogs eat them.

It is important to make fishermen aware, create a safe environment for the egg-laying site, and prevent dogs from roaming on the beach. If this is not done, turtles cannot be saved, he viewed.

It is known that turtles come to lay eggs on secluded beach sites. The places for egg-laying have become risky for various reasons. Along with the development of tourism, unplanned infrastructure development, lighting on Cox's Bazar beaches, throwing abandoned nets into the sea, diving on the beach during the egg-laying season, playing sports, walking on the beach, etc. have destroyed the environment for turtles to lay eggs. Due to these reasons, the turtle egg-laying sites are continuously decreasing.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman said, "The time for mother turtles to lay eggs usually starts from November, which lasts until April-May. They come to a secluded beach at night and make a hole and lay eggs. Usually a mother turtle lays up to 30 eggs. After laying the eggs, she covers them with soil, sand or any other organic matter. Then the mother turtle returns to the sea.

The eggs hatch naturally within 60 to 70 days. Then the babies come out of the hole and go to the sea."

Shafiqur Rahman also said that 10 years ago, mother turtles came to lay eggs at 52 points, but now it has reduced to 34 points. These turtles used to lay eggs in secluded areas of the beach from Sonadia in Maheshkhali to Saint Martin's Island. But now there is no environment for them to come to lay eggs on the beach and return to the deep sea again. Mother turtles are constantly dying when they come to lay eggs.

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