The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, St. Martin's

Due to uncontrolled human activities along the sandy parts of the sea beach of St. Martin's island, the arrival of turtles for laying eggs has been reduced significantly.

Besides, loitering of pariah dogs on the beach in search of turtle eggs and barking at egg laying turtles also create a situation that yearly visits of the beach by sea turtles is becoming rare. Just a few years back locals and tourists have witnessed hundreds of sea turtles laying eggs during the breeding season which was worth seeing, but now a limited number of sea turtles used to visit St. Martins beach to lay eggs.

To protect the sea turtles and allow them to lay eggs safely, Coastal and Wetlands Bio-diversity Project (CWBMP) has undertaken a project to preserve two endangered species of sea turtles - Green Turtle and Olive Ridle Turtle - by keeping the sea beach undisturbed. Steps have been taken to collect the turtle eggs and put those in a newly set up hatchery by keeping the dogs at bay.

The CWBMP has engaged Bangladesh POUSH in protecting the sea beach free of human movement where turtles usually come to lay eggs, imposing restriction on arranging the camp fire along the beach or using flashlights at night, so that the turtles can lay eggs safely.

The POUSH has employed 17 fulltime guards to ensure safe- laying of eggs by the turtles and their return to the sea. The guards collect the eggs and put those in the hatchery.

Under the supervision of Dr Tapan Kumar Ghoshal, the POUSH guards have collected over 5,335 eggs and during the last 14 months over 2,200 turtle hatchlings were released into the sea. He said once the beach is secured from invasion of tourists and dogs, the turtles in increased number would take the St. Martin's beach as their natural breeding ground as before.