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| Sunday, 28 April 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Preventing a 'turtle' disaster by Vimukthi Fernando
All eyes turn to what appears to be a dark rock - rolling up slowly towards the shore. Fascinated, we watch the huge hump crawl under a lump of coastal vegetation. The lady we have been waiting for, a turtle, had arrived. We hear the swish swishing of sand being thrown off. "Now, she is digging a 'body-pit' the place where she settles for laying eggs" whispers our friendly guide, as he goes on to explain how cautious turtles are in finding the perfect place to lay eggs. She looks for the perfect temperature, moisture content and the quality of sand. The process of digging the body pit takes about 1 hour, and the whole process of laying eggs takes up to 3 hours. "This is a green turtle. Greens lay about 120 eggs at a time and might turn in up to 5 times to nest during a season. In a little while you can see her lay eggs," says the guide as we settle ourselves close by. As the swish swishing goes on, our guide explains how the turtle digs her 'egg chamber' a flask shaped cavity with her hind flippers, to lay eggs. We learn that the flask shaped cavity helps retain the heat and determine the sex ratio of the hatchlings and that on average, the incubation period is 60 days. Our guide tells us that hatchlings emerging from the nest crawl to the sea and swim constantly for about 48 hours, into deep sea to escape from the predators in the shallow waters. They do not feed during this time and are sustained by the remains of the egg yolk in their stomachs for nutrition. On the third day, they start feeding on tiny, floating sea animals and stay afloat themselves. We watch elated as the turtle covers the traces of her egg chamber and returns to the sea. The process has begun. In 60 days another batch of hatchlings will brave the sea - if the eggs are allowed to hatch naturally. But the sad fact is that 'only one out of a thousand hatchlings survive to maturity under natural conditions'. Turtles have a very slow growth rate and take 30 years to attain sexual maturity. Their lifespan reaches over 100 years. However, with predators animal and man alike, the future of these sea giants are at stake. The quiet beauty of the hatching odyssey was however not without incident. Marred by ignorance and the high-handed action of field staff members, we were witness to several infringements to the conservation rules, primary among them: scaring away the turtles with torch light. We leave the beach with the voices of the villagers ringing in our ears. "We were the people who used to collect eggs. Now we realize the value of our own beaches and mangroves. Though the officials of the Project were young, they taught us much. We are training to become tourist guides, to carry on the livelihood we are employed in now."
Back in Colombo, I check first with the field office staff of the Department of Wild Life Conservation (DWLC) as to their conservation methods and practices. The 13 member staff at the site, employ "in-situ conservation within a range of one and a half kilometres" says the official in charge. "Turtle nests are allowed to hatch naturally within 750 meters either side of the point where the site office is located. Beyond 750 meters, we take the eggs and bury them close to natural conditions at an area where it is easy to monitor, because it is difficult to patrol in the night or protect the eggs from being stolen by the villagers," the official says. According to the official, the problem is 'with the villagers,'. "Before we came here, there was a research project sponsored by the Department. But it was terminated because the villagers had a dispute with the project officers and started robbing the eggs. Now, the problem is with unorganised tourism. The villagers get hold of the tourists who come here and get some money by showing the turtles. They disturb the turtles by shining torch lights while they lay eggs." Recalling the incident at the rookery, I ask him about the rules and regulations on 'torch lights' on the beach. "The officers have to use lights to find out turtle tracks," he tells me. A Wildlife Department, Director who is personally interested in conserving the marine and coastal areas, reveals that there had been a programme to conserve turtles in Bundala and Rekawa areas since November 2001. He says that there have been discussions with the village heads in Rekawa, to introduce and streamline tourism to the areas and for joint management in turtle conservation, A committee consisting of the community leaders will undertake the management with the overall supervision and assistance from the Department in providing facilities, technical skills, training and law enforcement. He agrees on the potential of Rekawa for turtle conservation as well as tourism. A visit to the Turtle Conservation Project field office in Colombo brings more awareness of the situation. Thushan Kapurusinghe, Team Leader of the Turtle Conservation Project (TCP) reminisces: "The system when we first went to the beach was that the first person who noted the turtle waited till she settles down for nesting and drawing a circle around the place ran off looking for another." He also adds that although the TCP had stopped carrying out scientific research at Rekawa beach due to financial restraints it continues with the community development programmes at Rekawa. However the sad fact in Sri Lanka is 'the total dependence of coastal communities on their surrounding natural resources for survival is a complicated socio economic problem posing a great challenge on conservation efforts, Kapurusinghe points out. And the answer, "is the identification of turtles and other marine and coastal bio-diversity as an economically valuable resource to make income for the coastal communities in non destructive practice." Why we need to protect them It is a matter of life and death. For turtles of course. Turtles, who were found to have existed over 100 million years ago, and roamed the seas in great numbers until recently are now threatened with life. Yes. During the past 50 years the populations have dwindled drastically. Only 7 species are in existence around the world now. Most of these species are listed endangered or vulnerable by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Sri Lanka is fortunate and keeps to her recognition as a bio-diversity hot-spot by the simple fact that she is home to five out of the seven turtle species existing in the world. The Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) and the Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) inhabit Sri Lankan waters and come ashore to nest (especially in the Southwestern and Southern coastline). All five species are considered either vulnerable or endangered by the IUCN and listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix 1 prohibiting commercial international trade. Further, Sri Lanka's Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (1972 and amendment 1993) protects them prohibiting their slaughter, egg collection and trade. How we can contribute towards turtle conservation All of us can contribute our individual share directly to minimise killings of marine turtles by not consuming turtle flesh and eggs and not purchasing ornaments made out of turtle shells.The best way to protect and conserve turtles is to protect and conserve its habitats for it allows the animals to survive under the natural selection. Human impact needs to be kept minimised while the natural conditions are kept maximised. Protecting existing rookeries from pollution by loud noises, bright lights and garbage is one way. Encouraging and conserving coastal vegetation and minimising beach erosion are some others. It is not only the turtle rookeries that needs to be protected. Their feeding habitats and the deep sea habitats also need protection.
Facts... * Marine turtles have inhabited the earth for over 100 million years and witnessed the rise and fall of dinosaurs. * Though evolved from tortoise-like animals they cannot withdraw their heads and limbs into their shells. * Turtles are reptiles and environment determines their body temperature. They breath air rising to the surface every 20-30 minutes when feeding, but spends a whole night resting underwater without breathing. * Male turtles spend all their life at the sea. Only the female turtles leave the ocean when she comes to nest. * Turtles lifespan is over 100 years. For a turtle to reach sexual maturity it takes 30 years. * The Letherback turtle is the largest of all marine turtles, growing up to 3 meters in length and weighing about 600 kilograms. The largest Leatherback ever found weighed 916 kilograms. * The Olive Ridley turtle is the smallest of marine turtles, weighing less than 40 kilograms and growing up to 65cm in length. How we speed up the extinction of marine turtles It is correct to say that man is the worst 'predator' of turtles, though they have other natural predators such as dogs, crabs, reef fishes and sea birds. The exotic tastes tilting the Sri Lankan pallets continue the killings for meat and poaching of eggs. Turtle meat has been a delicacy in the Northern parts and turtle eggs a most desired food in the Southern parts of the island for centuries. Turtles are also killed for their shells or the carapace, specially the Hawksbills fall prey to this due to their beautifully patterned shell. The turtle shell trade continues unabated although illegal. Many a turtle dies entangled in the fishing nets. Though many varied estimates exist, the turtle by-catch, of the whole of Sri Lankan coastline is yet to be determined. A turtle by-catch survey carried out between September 1999 and November 2000 by the Turtle Conservation Project (TCP) at 16 sites along the coast between Kalpitiya and Kirinda (448km), representing 39% of the fisheries sector had recorded a total of 5241 turtles entangled in nets. TCP estimates that the total by-catch in Sri Lankan waters to be approximately 13,000 (5241/39 x 100) turtles per year. It poses the questions whether the turtles in Sri Lankan waters be in greater danger than believed before? Marine pollution also poses a direct threat to species such as the Leatherback. The Leatherback turtle eats polythene or plastic bags mistaking them for jellyfish and starve to death as they line the turtle's stomach and stops the passage of food. Other activities of man causing indirect destruction include coral mining which destroys the turtle feeding habitats, beach erosion which destroys the turtle nesting habitats and unplanned beach front development which scares away the female turtle from nesting with its noise and light and disorients emerging hatchlings, preventing them from finding their way to the sea. Furthermore, non-scientific practices of most of the turtle hatcheries, which operate for tourist attraction seem to do more damage than conservation. Turtle Nesting beaches along the southwestern and southern coast line: Induruwa Green turtle, Olive Ridley turtle, Leatherback turtle Kosgoda Green turtle, Olive Ridley turtle, Leatherback turtle, Loggerhead turtle, Hawksbill turtle Akurella Green turtle, Mawella Green turtle, Leatherback turtle Rekawa Green turtle, Olive Ridley turtle, Leatherback turtle, Loggerhead turtle, Hawksbill turtle Kahandamodara Species unknown Usangoda Leatherback turtle Ambalantota Green turtle, Leatherback turtle Bundala Green turtle, Olive Ridley turtle, Leatherback turtle, Loggerhead turtle, Hawksbill turtle Yala Green turtle, Leatherback turtle, Olive Ridley turtle (Source: TCP beach survey,1997) |
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| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
The beach gleams creamy gold - in the soft light emanating from
thousands of stars up above. A perfect night. We wait anxiously. Minutes
turn to hours. No one moves. Not a hum is heard. The air is thick with
anticipation. Her approach is whispered down the line. At last!
