IN A FIRST: Awareness Centre will be designed in shape of a giant green sea turtle
If all goes as planned Dahanu, could soon boast of a first of its kind state-of-the-art awareness and research centre dedicate to turtles, which would be set up close to the Dahanu beach. The centre will itself be designed in the shape of a giant green sea turtle.
Members of NGO Wildlife Conservation and Animal Welfare Association (WCAWA) who jointly run the turtle treatment and transit centre along with forest department at Dahanu beach, gave a detailed presentation to Principal Secretary (Forest) Vikas Kharge who on April 28 visited the centre.
Rahul Marathe, Range Forest Officer (RFO), Dahanu said that the Principal Secretary (Forest) was impressed with the facility and during the presentation, both upgrading of the existing transit centre and setting up of the new awareness centre was discussed at length. "He has asked us to procure sophisticated medical instruments including X-Ray machines and upgrade the transit centre. Also for awareness centre, we will be preparing a detailed proposal soon," he said.
The WCAWA has proposed an awareness centre of 120sqfeet X 120sqfeet and 25 feet in height, which will also have a dedicated research centre including a library to help anyone carrying out research on turtles.
"The thought is to create a world-class interpretation centre for tourists especially school and college students for creating awareness about turtles for which new-age mediums of engagements like interactive touch screen panels as well as displays would be placed," said Dr Dinesh Vinherkar, wildlife veterinarian and turtle expert associated with WCAWA adding that the centre will become a tourist attraction in Dahanu.
Dhaval Kansara, founder of WCAWA informed that there will be taxidermy models of different types of turtles installed as well. "The centre will also have selfie points and will also offer visitors a peek into the daily life and culture of the tribals and fishing communities from Dahanu," he informed.
"The transit centre also needs a complete makeover with larger tanks for the turtles, modern operation theatre for complex surgeries on the amphibians, X-ray machines. We are glad that even the Principal Secretary (Forest) agreed to it and has asked us to prepare an MOU with the forest department," said Vinherkar.
GIANT LEAP
Dahanu turtle treatment and transit centre, on an average, rescues, treats and rehabilitates over 60 turtles including Olive Ridley, Green Sea Turtles, Hawksbills and Loggerheads every year
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