The study is a pioneering effort for sea turtle research and conservation in Karwar, Karnataka, India. I conducted this study as part of my Masters dissertation in Marine Biology between the years 2000 and 2002.The nesting species found...
moreThe study is a pioneering effort for sea turtle research and conservation in Karwar, Karnataka, India. I conducted this study as part of my Masters dissertation in Marine Biology between the years 2000 and 2002.The nesting species found through our field survey was the olive ridley turtle.Our first sighting was during a night survey along the Devbag beach of Karwar, and a clutch of 64 eggs was found laid by the turtle near the ipomea-pes-caprae. From a conservation perspective-as these are consumed by the local community- the 64 eggs, and several other clutches salvaged from the fish market, were relocated into a hatchery on the Devbag beach. Low hatching rates from these clutches resulted in the investigation of environmental factors that influenced the hatching success.The environmental variables included
temperature(soil), nest depth, moisture, and sand type.
The hatchlings that emerged from the clutches were also reared for three months both from a research and conservation perspective. Feeding patterns, behavior towards light during release, and other parameters (not detailed in the paper) were recorded in this study.
To date there have been just few studies of sea turtles along Karnataka's coast, and this has been an important study. Although the paper could not afford detailed acknowledgements due to limits prescribed for text size, I would like to acknowledge a few names here: Mr.B.K Dikshit-District Forest Officer of Karwar, and RFO, Mr.D 'Souza, who I sought permission for work on turtles (the permission was granted despite the fact they had no evidence if sea turtles visited Karwar coast). Eventually as I submitted proof of sea turtle eggs on sale in the Karwar market, and the nesting turtle on Devbag beach, they joined in the effort enthusiastically, by offering facilities such as a hatchery for relocation of turtle nests, and a steel tank to raise hatchlings. There were also other staff who were extremely helpful with my work ; Dr.Rajgopalan, a sea turtle researcher himself,and Senior Scientist from the Central Marine Fisheries, in 2003, allowed me the privilege of being a resource person, and presenting my work during the GOI-UNDP-WII-CMFRI organized turtle workshop in Cochin, happening after a gap of 20 years, since the last held in the 1980's. After my presentation in the workshop, Dr. Kartik Shanker who was a participant and resource person, invited me to share this work in his publication- Kachhappa. Dr. Shanker took much pains to review the report, and got it to good shape, the form you are now reading :).
This study was a major beginning in my turtle story, and the support and nurturing efforts provided by these wonderful people have come a long way in sustaining my turtle career until today.