For another month or so, Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings will be trying to make their way to the ocean, in a state of swimming frenzy. A very small percentage of them will make it, however, and even fewer will survive in the water. What gives them more of a fighting chance than before, is a veritable army of sidekicks in human form, who have been working over the years to help these hatchlings win their battle for survival.
The chances of a newborn Olive Ridley turtle surviving is one in 1,000, says Akhila Balu, diving into the types of predators these “babies” have to handle on land, in water and from the skies. Balu, who has been volunteering with the Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network (SSTCN) for the past 13 years, explains that these turtles are at risk even before they hatch from their eggs.
“Dogs and jackals dig up the eggs, and sometimes there is poaching of eggs as well. Even after the babies are born, they are easy food for crows, dogs and other animals,” says Balu.
Part of a larger system
After they hatch, getting to the ocean is the next struggle. Newborns don’t leave the eggs right after hatching, staying put for about another day, for a very specific reason.
“Inside the egg, there is food stored in a yolk sack, that you can see once the egg hatches. The baby slowly absorbs this sack while still in the egg: it is enough food to last it for 48 to 72 hours,” says Balu, adding that even after this, if the hatchlings manage to reach the ocean at all, there are certain types of fish — like catfish — waiting to feast on them.
One might argue that these conflicts are part of a larger natural system — Balu talks of records that show catfish breeding increases during these months, presumably because of this seasonal spurt in food source.
But what is not natural is the bright light that shines on to the beach from the city, disorienting newborns trying to find their way to the sea. Naturally drawn towards the moonlight reflecting off the ocean, the hatchlings now turn towards this brighter source of light instead, inching closer to the city and to their deaths.
That is one threat that human intervention can help fight, in addition to fighting off poachers and predators. This is where organisations like SSTCN and Tree Foundation of India come in, building hatcheries and organising turtles walks to ensure that eggs stay safe and that newborns make it to the water, at least.
“Once they reach the ocean, there’s really nothing more we can do,” says Balu.
Invested in the turtles
So what is it that keeps these organisations invested in their cause through the years? “The most frequent questions we get asked about these turtles are ‘What use are they?’ and ‘Why should we conserve them?’ People wonder why this animal, which isn’t as majestic as the lion or the elephant, is important,” says Supraja Dharini, founder, Tree Foundation of India, explaining, “It is an indicator of the health of the ocean. These turtles swim thousands of kilometres to these shores to lay their eggs.”
Dharini was among the first in the city to spread awareness of turtles and their conservation among the fishing villages on Chennai beaches, turning children who would earlier play cricket with these eggs into passionate conservationists. Her organisation continues to spread awareness to members of the public every year, even letting them lend a helping hand once they know how.
“We normally take 120 people to the turtle walks,” says Dharini, “First, we show them a documentary, explain the dos and dont’s, and introduce them to the injured turtles in our hatchery.”
On their first turtle walk, a volunteer can only observe what is done. “We give them orientation, and then ask them to come again,” she says.
A walk to remember
There is quite a bit of enthusiasm among Chennaiites about turtle conservation — and especially the turtle walks — but, as Balu points out, “This is difficult work. You have to be really passionate about it; you can’t just do it for timepass.”
For those willing to put in the hours of effort, there’s plenty to do. “We need young volunteers to stave off predators like dogs. We’ll be patrolling till the end of this month, and little into April as well,” says Balu, adding that patrolling on the weekdays is done only by boys, because of safety concerns. “Girls who are interested can join our public walks on weekends,” she says, adding, “We need plenty of help in our hatchery as well.”
The SSTCN hatchery is just off Besant Nagar beach, near Urur Olcott Kuppam.
This is where the turtle eggs are relocated to be kept safe till hatching, and injured turtles are nursed there as well. Every year, between January and April, these hatcheries see plenty of activity, and have turned hitherto curious volunteers into conservationists for life.
Turtle walks are being conducted till the end of the month. To volunteer, visit the Tree Foundation of India Facebook page, or https://sstcn.org.