Since the start of December, when the annual nesting season began, over 100 dead sea turtles have washed ashore along the Chennai coast, in addition to a few spotted at Puducherry.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
At least 10 carcasses of Olive Ridley sea turtles were seen on December 29 at Injambakkam, with many of them in a highly decomposed state. Since the start of December, when the annual nesting season began, over 100 dead sea turtles have washed ashore along the Chennai coast, in addition to a few spotted at Puducherry. However, officials say the mortality count is lesser.
“Every mortality is recorded. Since the start of the season, 88 carcasses have washed ashore,” said Rakesh Kumar Dogra, Chief Wildlife Warden. The Olive Ridley sea turtle is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is carrying out a slew of measures, including intercepting of trawlers, which are banned for up to five nautical miles from the shore during the sea turtle nesting season.
Published – December 30, 2025 05:30 am IST
