Another dead turtle has been found on Kuakata sea beach in Patuakhali. It weighed an estimated 20 to 25 kg.

Environmental activist Jewel Rana spotted the turtle at 12 noon on 3 April (Sunday) in the Jhaubon point area of the beach. Members of the Kuakata Dolphin Rokkha Committee then came, recovered the turtle and arranged for it to be buried.

Jewel Rana, a member of the committee and an environmental activist, told Jagonews: "Around 12 noon I went to the beach on personal business and saw a dead turtle floating in the force of the tide. I then brought it up and buried it in a safe place."

Sagarika Smriti, associate researcher with the USAID/Eco-Fish 2 WorldFish Bangladesh project in Patuakhali district, told Jagonews that it is currently the breeding season for turtles, so they come to the coast. The turtle found today is Lepidochelys olivacea. These turtles usually live more than 50 years, but this one may be 15 to 20 years old. "Our people are here, and we are collecting and keeping some samples," she said.

Ruman Imtiaz Tushar, team leader of the Kuakata Dolphin Rokkha Committee, told Jagonews that marine animals are dying just before the start of the monsoon. "We have discussed the matter several times with higher authorities. They will look into it."

Apu Saha, senior fisheries officer of Kalapara upazila, told Jagonews that forensics and full responsibility for turtles lie with the Forest Department. "Even so, we are working on this. Higher authorities have been informed, and we hope we will find out the cause of death."

More than 10 dead dolphins, turtles and other marine animals have been found on Kuakata beach in the past two months.

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