How the Dahanu coastline became a sea of problems for turtles

The coastal town of Dahanu, on the outskirts of Mumbai, and its neighbouring areas is known for its quiet shoresline. But a closer look reveals a peculiar problem – carcasses of sea turtles washed ashore. Dr Dinesh Vinherkar, Visiting Veterinary Consultant at the Injured Sea Turtle Treatment and Transit Center, Dahanu, explains the plethora of problems that plague these turtles.

Vinherkar has been associated with an NGO Wildlife Conservation and Animal Welfare Association (WCAWA) that conducts wildlife rescue in the Dahanu area. "Around nine years ago, I had treated an injured sea turtle. Since then, I have come across various types of turtles, with minor injuries had their flippers cut off, or were severely infected," he says. The number of cases, he points out, has been increasing since then.

Vinherkar and the NGO then figured that there has to be something fundamentally wrong inside the sea. They started patrolling the shoreline of Dahanu day and night. This is when they found carcasses of sea turtles. "We would transport these carcasses to the centre, under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department. Since sea turtles are Schedule I species, protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, even burying their carcasses has a set of protocols," he informs. Since 2011, this NGO, the forest department and Vinherkar have been working in tandem to treat rescued sea turtles.

This monsoon alone, the team rescued 20 critically injured sea turtles. Of these, more than 80 per cent turtles couldn't make it due to septicaemia and lethal injuries, which caused irreparable damage. This year, the number of injured sea turtles has alarmingly risen. Many reasons are attributed to this: fishing nets discarded by the fisher folks, ghost nets and plastic products, trashed in the sea that either injure or entangle with the flippers and neck, causing strangulation. This causes minor cuts and bruises, and also exacerbates when the turtles try to free themselves. The damage leads to blood loss and in some cases, even damages the bone. "It's the injured turtles that get thrown out by the sea during the monsoon.Their breathing and ability to swim gets hampered," says Vinherkar.

Olive Ridley turtles, green turtles, hawksbill turtles and loggerhead turtles are the kind of sea turtles that are usually brought to the centre. And in order to curb the rise in the number of already endangered turtles that are lost this way, cleaning the polluted seas should be prioritised. "There is so much trash in the sea, which affects the marine life. We need a large-scale Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in the sea to save the turtles, along with other marine life," he concludes.

How to help a stranded sea turtle?

• Don't touch the turtle till you know the severity of its injuries. 'Non-technical' handling can cause further damage to the turtle's vital status
   
• Don't manoeuvre broken flippers without having basic knowledge of anatomy. It can prove to be extremely painful for an already stressed reptile
   
• Don't apply any antibiotic or turmeric on the wound as it may worsen the problem
   
• Don't put on the camera flash or try to take selfies with it
   
• Do not lift the sea turtle alone without ascertaining approximate body weight and its physical strength
   
• Do not open the mouth of the turtle as it can bite off your fingers or bones very easily
   
• Contact the wildlife control room, forest department or the local police station and share your location and details
   
• Control the crowd by informing them to stay away from the turtle
   
• Take help from onlookers and arrange for a cloth or towel and water bottles filled with seawater. Keep pouring seawater gently on the turtle's body to keep it moist. Cover the head, shell and limbs of the turtle with a wet cloth to reduce dehydration