Assessment of marine turtle nesting habitats from Tangalle to the Kumbukkan Oya estuary in south-eastern Sri Lanka (original) (raw)
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MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION IN REKAWA TURTLE ROOKERY IN SOUTHERN SRI LANKA
Ceylon Journal of Science, 2002
There are seven species of marine turtles living in the world and five come ashore to nest in Sri Lanka. All those five species are nesting on Rekawa beach and they are under threat of egg poaching. For a long time Rekawa villagers have collected all the turtle eggs for sale or local consumption. The main objective of this programme was conserving the marine turtle population nesting on Rekawa while providing alternative income for the villagers. At the same time we have conducted research on the turtles and observed their nesting frequencies. Over approximately four years, grants to the project provided employment to villagers that resulted in protection of 827 nesting female marine turtles and to the resulting 3328 nests containing 372,107 eggs. Successful incubation resulted in 305,128 hatchlings being released to the sea.
All seven species of marine turtles of which four species that occur in the Indian waters have undergone severe population declines. The Maharashtra state, having a 720 km long coastline is among the top few coastal states in India that supports high coastal and marine biodiversity. Many of these sites along this coast have been prioritized for conservation action. We carried out a survey to assess the sea turtle nesting beaches and collect information on the near shore turtle habitats along the 120 km long Sindhudurg coastline along Southern Maharashtra. Three sites along this coast: Devgad, Vengurla, Malvan have been prioritized for immediate conservation action. Out of 27 identified nesting beaches only 13 beaches exhibited sporadic nesting of Vulnerable Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). Endangered Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the Critically Endangered Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) are regularly seen in the near shore waters, this has been reported through questionnaire survey of the local fishermen. Our study indicates that turtles probably congregate in select areas off the Sindhudurg coast during a certain time of the year for feeding or resting during which they are likely vulnerable to near shore trawling or to gill net fishing. Keywords: Marine turtle, Sporadic nesting, Olive ridley, Vulnerable, Critically endangered
Sea Turtle Nesting Habitat Assessment: A Rapid, Integrated, Technological Approach
Rock Eagle (GA; USA) Proceedings (Electronic), 1999
A rapid assessment technique for assigning quantative values to loggerhead sea turtle nesting habitat on the Georgia coast has been developed using experience gained on St. Catherines Island. Habitat photographs are presented leading to recognition of erosional and depositional habitats. Habitat parameters are scored on a beach grid on a scale of 1-5 generating a quantatative assessment of the habitat allowing temporal comparison of each area and comparision of areas. Technology allows rapid development of ideas and procedures. Computer-based graphics, including digital images, are used to illustrate word processed text as the concepts are developed eventaully leading to a completed paper-based document suitable for distribution to colleagues as a publication. The learning cycle is extended for colleagues by paper-based publication and by uploading edited copy onto the web for rapid and timely distribution. Note: Habitats utilized by nesting loggerhead sea turtles on St. Catherines Island are described. Electronic Copy
Puducherry, is a small U nion Territory of India, located along the southern east coast of India with coastline of 45 km. This coastline is being used for nesting of sea turtles, especially Olive Ridley and Green Sea turtles, but the coastline was observed as highly dynamic and rapidly changing probably due to anthropogenic pressures in the recent past. Therefore, this study aimed to detect the land use and land cover change in the recent past and its impact on the nesting beaches of sea turtles. Land use/land cover patterns between 2004 and 2015 were visually interpreted and assessed for its changes. High sporadic nesting of sea turtles was reported on the beaches of Nallavadu village before 2004 but due to significant changes in the land use of adjoining areas of the beach that resulted in decline of nesting of sea turtles. Larger portion of agricultural land adjoining to nesting beach was converted into aquaculture and built up areas that deterred more sea turtles use the beaches for nesting. Similarly, another fishing village Vanjiur where 116 hectares of agriculture land along nesting beach was converted to aquaculture and built up has resulted in decline of nesting of sea turtles. It was found that arable lands along turtle nesting beaches were shrunk due to demand from other developing sectors such as aquaculture, tourism and real estate. Therefore, we propose to declare remaining critical sea turtle nesting beaches of Pudchurry such as beaches between Nallavadu and Moorthikuppam villages, and beaches around Arasalar River, Karaikal as ‘Community or Conservation Reserves’. These community or conservation reserves should be managed with active participation of local communities for the long term conservation of sea turtles in Puducherry. Keywords: Land use land cover, Puducherry, Coastal, Arable, Sporadic
Sea turtles are under serious threat worldwide due to many anthropogenic and natural impacts hence their conservation is vital to ensure their survival. The aim of this study was to contribute up to date information regarding sea turtles by mapping the location of important nesting sites in Northern Madagascar and evaluating nesting activity through body pit numbers and influencing factors. Moreover, local perception and awareness of sea turtles status and legislation was also explored.
Nesting behaviour of the Green turtle at Kosgoda rookery, Sri Lanka
Ceylon Journal of Science (Biological Sciences), 2011
Studies on nesting behaviour of turtles provide the most important information on their reproduction by providing estimates of female population size. Kosgoda, located in the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, has a year-round nesting rookery which is visited by five species of sea turtles, the green turtle being the most frequent visitor. Nesting behaviour of the female green turtle was studied at the Kosgoda rookery during a five-year period from August 2003 to July 2008. A total of 1,492 nests of the green turtle were recorded with a mean of 298.4 annual nests. Nesting took place year round, with 66 % of nesting recorded during February to June. The highest and the lowest number of nests were recorded in April and November, respectively. The average clutch size of a female green turtle was 111.5 and the clutch frequency was 2.17. The average annual nesting abundance in the study area was 138.28. Of the 2,297 nesting attempts, 805 were false crawls accounting for a nesting success of 65%. Females nesting at Kosgoda showed nest site fidelity. More than half of the females (54.3%) nested in the same beach twice or more (mean 2.17) during the same nesting season. The highest number of re-nesting recorded was ten and the mean inter-nesting interval was 13.5 days. Of the 519 individuals tagged during the study period, 56 re-visited the same beach for nesting during the subsequent nesting seasons with a mean re-migration interval of 2.56 years. One female visited the same beach three times for nesting during the study period (after 2.67 years and then after 1.83 years). The nesting behaviour of the green turtle at Kosgoda rookery was similar to those at Rekawa, the largest rookery in Sri Lanka, located in the southern coast 130 km away from Kosgoda. Rekawa beach was declared a sea turtle sanctuary in 2006. This study shows that Kosgoda beach also provides a significant nesting site for the green turtle and highlights the need to declare it as a sanctuary.