A total of 163 sea turtle hatchlings have been rescued from the dunes next to the Lemburban forest on Kuakata beach in Patuakhali. They were found under an abandoned shop in the dune area.

When the news spread at noon on Tuesday 19 May it caused great curiosity among local people. The hatchlings were later released safely at the mouth of three rivers next to the Andharmanik river, in the presence of the Forest Department, the upazila administration and members of environmental organisations.

Local sources said Md Bayezid, a trader from Lemburban, went to open his fish-fry shop on Tuesday morning after it had been closed for a long time. While cleaning around the shop he saw small creatures moving in the sand and, looking closer, found turtle hatchlings climbing onto the sand. When he told people nearby, they moved the sand and found more hatchlings in a hole. Members of the local volunteer group Upora then began the rescue.

The rescuers said eggshells, egg membranes and newly hatched young were found in the hole. It is thought the mother turtle laid her eggs there a few weeks earlier because the spot was quiet. The eggs hatched, but the shop's structure and the sand stopped the hatchlings reaching the sea.

After the rescue, members of the coastal environmental movement Upora informed the Forest Department and the upazila administration. In their presence the hatchlings were carried in plastic containers to a safe place near the beach, observed for a while, and released in the afternoon at the mouth of three rivers next to the Andharmanik. Local onlookers, tourists and environmental activists were present.

K M Bachchu, convener of Upora, said these are olive ridley sea turtle hatchlings. The species usually comes ashore on deserted beaches late at night to lay eggs, looking for a safe, soft, sandy spot. At the site they found eggshells, membranes and live hatchlings, and he believes the eggs were laid at least 40–60 days earlier.

He added that sea turtles play a very important role in keeping the coastal environment in balance, but plastic pollution, illegal nets, careless tourists and encroachment on the coast have put their survival at risk.

Ruman Imtiaz Tushar, team leader of the Kuakata Dolphin Rokkha Committee, said the Kuakata coast matters not only for tourism but also for marine biodiversity. Olive ridley turtles come ashore to lay eggs in a particular season each year, but uncontrolled movement of people, artificial light at night, noise pollution and plastic waste on the beach deny them a safe environment.

He said it was certainly good news that 163 hatchlings had returned safely to the sea today, but most of them face many natural risks, so local people must be made more aware about turtle conservation and regular monitoring along the coast must be increased.

Mohipur range officer Moniruzzaman said all the rescued hatchlings were released healthy and safe. Sea turtles are an important part of biodiversity, and the Forest Department regularly monitors various parts of the Kuakata coast so that no one can harm turtle eggs or hatchlings.

Kalapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kawsar Hamid said such events show the richness of coastal biodiversity, and the administration always cooperates in protecting the environment and wildlife and will continue to do so.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.