Small Steps to Saving the Olive Ridley

During a late evening walk in December, as the sun set into the sea and the sky turned an orange-pink hue, Suhas Toraskar, spotted a trail in the sand that he is all too familiar with—the Olive Ridley Turtles had arrived. A veteran in the conservation of the Olive Ridley turtles, the 58- year-old fisherman followed the trail and with a stick moved the sands to unearth the turtle’s eggs. He made a protective boundary around the pit to protect the eggs from predators. Two months later, he would set free the baby turtles into the water and watch them swim away to their new life. This has been a routine for Toraskar since 1993.

Hailed as a ‘biodiversity champion’ by the United Nations Development Programme India, Toraskar has been the guardian angel of the breeding and nesting grounds of the olive ridley turtle which is an endangered species. Called a 'Kasav Mitra', Toraskar speaks to The Perfect Voice about how he pioneered a movement to save the olive ridley turtles in Sindhudurg.

How did you become a kasav mitra?

I have been doing this for 32 years now. Back then, eating turtle meat and eggs was considered a delicacy. Dogs, wolves and birds would also prey on these eggs apart from people. When I returned to my village Wayangani from Mumbai in 1993, I was dismayed by what I saw and I decided to start protecting these eggs so that this species, which was fast disappearing, could be saved. After scanning the beach for several days, we would find one small nest. My family and I would probably find one nest in a year, keep it safe from humans and animals and then leave the babies into the sea. Ten years later, the forest department got involved and roped in locals by offering compensation for those who would find these nests and protect them.

How many turtle hatchlings do you get every year on an average?

The numbers are going down because of activity increasing on the beaches. Last year, we got around 250 nests but this year, they are down to 190. Until now, we have released 8000 turtle hatchlings into the sea. The olive ridley turtle lays eggs thrice a year in decreasing numbers. In the first round, they lay around 120 eggs of which around 70 eggs hatch, eventually. Turtles are shy and avoid human contact. Nowadays with activity on the coastline increasing, they are moving away from our beach and looking for other quieter spots. Since I began, we must have released almost one lakh hatchlings into the sea.

Is it true that turtles always come back to the same place to lay eggs?

It is partly true but if the same place has become busy or there are too many people or bright lights, they will move to a secluded place close to that. It’s their natural instinct to avoid humans and animals. Research says that no matter where they are, olive ridley turtles can swim thousands of kilometers between their feeding and breeding grounds and return to the same area to lay their eggs.

Turtle conservation has turned into a tourist activity now. Is this awareness beneficial?

Yes and no. More and more people are sensitised to the importance of conserving and saving these turtles but earlier, it was our fisherfolk who did it. Now, with the government offering a prize or compensation amount to anyone who finds and protects these nests, a lot of other people have got involved; even those who have no interest in conservation. They save a nest, earn money and then use it to drink alcohol. For easy money, these people patrol the beaches with bright torches every night. These lights disturb the natural nesting areas of the turtles who are therefore moving away from Wayangani.

How important is the olive ridley turtle to the environment?

Every creature has a role to play in the environment. Turtles are especially crucial to maintain the marine ecological balance. They feed on invertebrates, dead fish and small corals which helps release the oxygen that’s locked up there. This is how the turtles, which are listed as an endangered species, play a key role in the marine ecosystem. We fisherfolk understand the importance of the seas and the marine ecology and we know how essential the turtle is.

What steps can be taken to protect their breeding and nesting havens?

Instead of offering remuneration to anyone who finds a nest, the forest department must nominate people who are entrusted with finding and protecting these nests. That way, anti-social people will stop roaming the beaches with torches. We need a systematic approach to conservation.