Karnataka: Forest department to hold sea turtle fest to promote conservation

UDUPI: The forest department, in association with various organisations that are working towards the conservation of sea turtles in Kundapur, has decided to hold a sea turtle festival next month, at the Kodi Beach in Kundapur.
Representatives from various organisations, including FSL India, Reef Watch Marine Conservation Centre and Clean Kundapura Project are involved in the conservation of olive ridley sea turtles.Kundapur DCF Ashish Reddy told TOI, "The event will be held once the hatchlings are released into the sea. We are planning to organise a two-day event this year. The purpose of the festival is to spread awareness on turtle conservation and felicitate stakeholders," he said.
The department will also rope in resource persons from across the state.
"FSL- India has been part of the conservation programme for nearly 10 years. But with the beach clean up drives and more locals being involved in the conservation programme, the number of nesting sites has increased in the last two years. When the public are part of conservation, we see positive change. It is a platform to bring all the stakeholders together, share some of the best practices, and increase the efforts towards conservation," he said.
Bharath Bangera of the Clean Kundapura Project said the objective of the festival is to save sea turtles, and prevent sea pollution. Due to Covid-19, a low-key programme was held last year. This year, the department plans to rope in celebrities, he said.
Meanwhile, nine nesting sites have been found at the Kodi Beach so far, and hatchlings from two nesting sites have already made their way to the sea. "Awareness is certainly the need of the hour. Volunteers from FSL India and the forest department are spending sleepless nights on the beach, to protect the eggs. There are a lot of myths that need to be busted. There are people who still believe that by consuming sea turtles, they will live a long life," he said.
Meanwhile, Milagres College Kallianpur organised a flash mob on the theme, 'Save sea turtles and sea pollution,' on Sunday, as part of Save Our Oceans campaign launched by the Clean Kundapura Project, in association with FSL India.
Dolphins spotted
There is also an increase in dolphin sightings near Kodi Beach. The department staff have also noticed an increase in the sightings of dolphins, said DCF Ashish Reddy. Meanwhile, Bharath Bangera said that the sightings are more in the mornings and evenings, and locals arrange boat rides for tourists to spot the dolphins. The trend is being observed from December, he said.