Las Velas
Four days after the Turtle Festival I am still on a high thinking of the adorable little turtle hatchlings that were released at the splendid shores of Velas, a small village in Ratnagiri. We reached Velas at about 8.30 am on Saturday morning (10th Feb), after a seemingly never-ending overnight journey through the ghats.
We freshened up at one of the houses of the locals, we headed straight towards the beach where the festival was being inaugurated. After myriad acknowledgements, Mr. Katdare (Bhau as he is known), finally announced the release of the turtles. We were asked to form a long queue so as to avoid too much chaos. Each one was given an opportunity to have a satisfactory look at the babies kept in the cane baskets.
The morning witnessed the release of 5 young ones from the modest hatchery in which they had been placed. Everyone was mesmerized looking at how these tiny creatures found their way towards the ocean with such ease. Like celebrities, they were being chased by numerous shutterbugs, each one hoping to get that ‘perfect shot’.After some struggle, the turtles finally made it to the sea with the splash of a wave – and gone they were, to live their lives as they are supposed to live it.
In the evening, some 15-18 more turtles were set free. This was followed by a film on SNM (Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra), Bhau’s organization that had planned the event. We got to know of the several projects carried out by SNM, apart from Marine Turtle Conservation (E.g Study, status survey and conservation of White-bellied sea eagle, Whitebacked Vultures, Indian Swiftlet, etc). Some facts about SNM’s Marine Turtle Conservation project are as follows (from their website- http://www.snmcpn. org/MarineTurtle Conservation. html):
“Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra (SNM) started Marine turtle conservation in Maharashtra India on 1st October 2002. First year they protected 50 nests of Olive Ridleys (Lepidochelys olivacea) and released 2734 hatchlings at Velas, District Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.Next year they released 1687 hatchling from 35 nests at four beaches. They have undertaken Awareness Programmes along the entire coastline of the area. In the year 2004-05, they spread this project on ten beaches and released 1565 hatchlings of Olive Ridley from 30 nests.In the 2005-2006 breeding season, they decided to cover the total 720kms coastline of Maharashtra.”
Unfortunately, an inversely proportionate ratio of only 40 nests from 25 villages in 2006 proves how marine turtles are crossing the upper limits of their presently endangered status very rapidly.A discussion regarding their activities and regarding the turtle conservation project succeeded the film show. We then split for dinner.
After a scrumptious meal prepared by the villagers, we decided to go for a night trail. Nothing apart from a few Brook's geckos were found unfortunately. But we were glad to witness the release of yet another hatchling. It was interesting to note how the volunteer, attracted it towards the sea with the help of an emergency light (since turtles are attracted towards light). To see the baby find its way into the ocean was definitely a sight to cherish.
With regards to conservation, I think Bhau's efforts are awe-inspiring, especially his involvement with the villagers - everyone from students to elders, covering as many as 25 villages. The film-show, the discussions, the photo exhibition (which also displayed the paintings of the winners of a drawing competition organized for the students, the topic being ‘Kasav Mitra’ i.e. Friends of Turtles) -- all of which, I am sure, enhanced the little knowledge that we had about turtle conservation (as well as various other brilliant projects taken up by SNM). The arrangements made by SNM for our comfortable stay, the tasty meals also deserve appreciation.
The next day, we left early in the morning for Dapoli to have a look at the Bottle-nosed dolphins. On reaching there, we booked a ferry and for a good one hour, we scanned the waters to sight a dolphin. Disheartened, we realized that luck wasn’t on our side that day, since we had reached Dapoli later than the ideal time to sight them. Suddenly a 'fin' (dorsal) popped out of the water and that got us all excited. Soon we realized that we were surrounded by dolphins – almost 10 of them that were playing around, and occasionally jumping out and diving back into the water! It was breathtaking. One of us, Simit, who is a reporter from The Times of India, even managed to capture a dolphin in mid-air! (His article on the festival will perhaps be out in tomorrow’s edition of Westside Plus. Will try and mail the link if possible). Contended with our sightings we headed back to the shore. But the picture of the hatchlings as well as the dolphins remained vivid in our minds for a long time.This is one trip I am certainly going to remember.
Regards,
Saloni
We freshened up at one of the houses of the locals, we headed straight towards the beach where the festival was being inaugurated. After myriad acknowledgements, Mr. Katdare (Bhau as he is known), finally announced the release of the turtles. We were asked to form a long queue so as to avoid too much chaos. Each one was given an opportunity to have a satisfactory look at the babies kept in the cane baskets.
The morning witnessed the release of 5 young ones from the modest hatchery in which they had been placed. Everyone was mesmerized looking at how these tiny creatures found their way towards the ocean with such ease. Like celebrities, they were being chased by numerous shutterbugs, each one hoping to get that ‘perfect shot’.After some struggle, the turtles finally made it to the sea with the splash of a wave – and gone they were, to live their lives as they are supposed to live it.
In the evening, some 15-18 more turtles were set free. This was followed by a film on SNM (Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra), Bhau’s organization that had planned the event. We got to know of the several projects carried out by SNM, apart from Marine Turtle Conservation (E.g Study, status survey and conservation of White-bellied sea eagle, Whitebacked Vultures, Indian Swiftlet, etc). Some facts about SNM’s Marine Turtle Conservation project are as follows (from their website- http://www.snmcpn. org/MarineTurtle Conservation. html):
“Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra (SNM) started Marine turtle conservation in Maharashtra India on 1st October 2002. First year they protected 50 nests of Olive Ridleys (Lepidochelys olivacea) and released 2734 hatchlings at Velas, District Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.Next year they released 1687 hatchling from 35 nests at four beaches. They have undertaken Awareness Programmes along the entire coastline of the area. In the year 2004-05, they spread this project on ten beaches and released 1565 hatchlings of Olive Ridley from 30 nests.In the 2005-2006 breeding season, they decided to cover the total 720kms coastline of Maharashtra.”
Unfortunately, an inversely proportionate ratio of only 40 nests from 25 villages in 2006 proves how marine turtles are crossing the upper limits of their presently endangered status very rapidly.A discussion regarding their activities and regarding the turtle conservation project succeeded the film show. We then split for dinner.
After a scrumptious meal prepared by the villagers, we decided to go for a night trail. Nothing apart from a few Brook's geckos were found unfortunately. But we were glad to witness the release of yet another hatchling. It was interesting to note how the volunteer, attracted it towards the sea with the help of an emergency light (since turtles are attracted towards light). To see the baby find its way into the ocean was definitely a sight to cherish.
With regards to conservation, I think Bhau's efforts are awe-inspiring, especially his involvement with the villagers - everyone from students to elders, covering as many as 25 villages. The film-show, the discussions, the photo exhibition (which also displayed the paintings of the winners of a drawing competition organized for the students, the topic being ‘Kasav Mitra’ i.e. Friends of Turtles) -- all of which, I am sure, enhanced the little knowledge that we had about turtle conservation (as well as various other brilliant projects taken up by SNM). The arrangements made by SNM for our comfortable stay, the tasty meals also deserve appreciation.
The next day, we left early in the morning for Dapoli to have a look at the Bottle-nosed dolphins. On reaching there, we booked a ferry and for a good one hour, we scanned the waters to sight a dolphin. Disheartened, we realized that luck wasn’t on our side that day, since we had reached Dapoli later than the ideal time to sight them. Suddenly a 'fin' (dorsal) popped out of the water and that got us all excited. Soon we realized that we were surrounded by dolphins – almost 10 of them that were playing around, and occasionally jumping out and diving back into the water! It was breathtaking. One of us, Simit, who is a reporter from The Times of India, even managed to capture a dolphin in mid-air! (His article on the festival will perhaps be out in tomorrow’s edition of Westside Plus. Will try and mail the link if possible). Contended with our sightings we headed back to the shore. But the picture of the hatchlings as well as the dolphins remained vivid in our minds for a long time.This is one trip I am certainly going to remember.
Regards,
Saloni
posted by Saloni at 9:49 AM
3 Comments:
great going saloni, hope to see more articles from you..
Nếu bạn tìm loại vật liệu Sàn gỗ tự nhiên Châu Âu cao cấp thì sàn gỗ nhập khẩu nguyên hộp từ các nước châu Âu là lựa chọn dành cho bạn.
https://kronopolvietnam.com/ Sàn gỗ cao cấp kronopolvietnam.com được xây dựng trên dây chuyền của các nước châu Âu đều có khả năng chịu nước tốt, ngâm nước hàng giờ liền vẫn khó bị cong vênh hèm khóa Ví dụ: sàn gỗ công nghiệp Đức, Thụy Sĩ,… ngược lại sàn gỗ công nghiệp từ Trung Quốc tuy giá rẻ nhưng hầu hết là có khả năng chịu nước kém.
Post a Comment
<< Home