seaturtle.org : MTN : ARCHIVES : Sign In

Marine Turtle Newsletter 29:9-11, © 1984

Marine Turtle Newsletter-Online

A Note on the Ridleys of Hope Island (Andhra Pradesh, India)

R.J. Rao
Department of Zoology, Saifia College, Bhopal (M.P.) India 462 001

On the east coast of India, one of the marine turtles, Lepidochelys olivacea, a Schedule I species (a totally protected species) under India's Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, breeds annually (Bustard, 1976). There is no systematic survey on the nesting of olive ridleys on the Andhra Pradesh coast (Kar, 1983).

To save these turtles from illegal slaughter and incidental catch, protective measures were taken by different state authorities after the letter-writing campaign (Marine Turtle Newsletter, 1983, 25, 1-2) to the Prime Minister of India. However, still there are reports on the illegal slaughter and incidental catch from about October to February along the Andhra coast. During a preliminary survey (Feb. 11-18, 1984) of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh (16°57'N, 77°12'E), I found many carcasses of ridleys. These were reported to be incidentally caught by mechanised trawlers along this coast where 1207 registered trawlers were moving every day. The possibility of their having drifted ashore from elsewhere also cannot be ruled out. Mating turtles in the sea and females on the shore are habitually caught by the fishermen of this coast for food.

During a survey (Feb. 17-18) on Hope Island (16°º49' - 16°59'15"N, 81°19'36" - 81°22'36"E), 7 nautical miles east to Kakinada, I found 25 carcasses of recently dead olive ridleys in a 10 kms stretch. Average measurements were: carapace length - 69 cms; carapace width - 65 cms and plastron length - 53 cms. 15 old ridley skulls were also found.

According to fishermen, this island is a good nesting site for ridleys. However, beside fishermen, jackals are the primary predators of the eggs. A total of 9 predated nests were found. No undisturbed nests were found. Fishermen reported that if they happen to see turtle tracks they will dig the nests to take away the eggs for food. On 18th February at 5.30 a.m., I saw two fishermen on the island searching for eggs.

I strongly suggest the following conservation measures to be taken in Andhra Pradesh.

  1. Surveys should be conducted during October to May (nesting season) to locate the nesting sites and make counts.
  2. Poaching should be controlled by patrols during nesting season.
  3. Port and Fisheries departments should be instructed to ban inshore use of trawlers and fishing nets during mating and nesting seasons. This can be better achieved if this island is declared a Marine turtle sanctuary of the state of Andhra Pradesh.
  4. Turtle excluder devices (TED--Marine Turtle Newsletter, 1982, 12, 1-2), should be used to control the incidental catch by mechanised trawlers.
  5. A hatchery should be set up on Hope Island to incubate eggs under protected conditions.

The above work was conducted during the tenure of a Senior Research Fellowship sanctioned by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.

Bustard, H.R. 1976. World's largest sea turtle rookery, Tiger paper, 3, 3.

Kar, C.S. 1983. Notes on Marine turtles in Andhra Pradesh Coast, India. Marine Turtle Newsletter, 25, 4-6