Environment

70 turtles found dead on Cox’s Bazar beach

At least 70 carcasses of Olive Ridley sea turtles have been recovered over the last three days from Cox's Bazar beach between Teknaf and Himchhari.

Most of the turtles were females that came ashore to lay eggs but faced accidental deaths, said Mohammad Shimul Bhuiyan, a scientific officer at Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI).

"We are investigating the specific causes of deaths," Bhuiyan said, adding that 99 Olive Ridley turtle carcasses were recovered from the same area during the last breeding season.

"November to March is the breeding season for sea turtles. During this time, females come ashore to lay eggs. However, many turtles die during this period due to getting entangled in fishing nets, collisions with vessels, or even attacks by stray dogs," he added.

HM Ershad, president of the Cox's Bazar chapter of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), said, "Turtles used to come and lay eggs in areas like Saint Martin's, Sonadia, Teknaf, Sonarpara, Pechar Dwip, and Himchhari. Uncontrolled tourism has disrupted their habitat. Additionally, around 20,000 fishing trawlers operate in the waters near Sandwip, Sonadia, Kutubdia, and other coastal areas, using nets that often trap turtles. Fishermen sometimes kill these turtles to avoid complications, and their bodies later wash ashore.""We will submit a memorandum to the deputy commissioner demanding steps to protect turtles," he said.

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70 turtles found dead on Cox’s Bazar beach

At least 70 carcasses of Olive Ridley sea turtles have been recovered over the last three days from Cox's Bazar beach between Teknaf and Himchhari.

Most of the turtles were females that came ashore to lay eggs but faced accidental deaths, said Mohammad Shimul Bhuiyan, a scientific officer at Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI).

"We are investigating the specific causes of deaths," Bhuiyan said, adding that 99 Olive Ridley turtle carcasses were recovered from the same area during the last breeding season.

"November to March is the breeding season for sea turtles. During this time, females come ashore to lay eggs. However, many turtles die during this period due to getting entangled in fishing nets, collisions with vessels, or even attacks by stray dogs," he added.

HM Ershad, president of the Cox's Bazar chapter of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), said, "Turtles used to come and lay eggs in areas like Saint Martin's, Sonadia, Teknaf, Sonarpara, Pechar Dwip, and Himchhari. Uncontrolled tourism has disrupted their habitat. Additionally, around 20,000 fishing trawlers operate in the waters near Sandwip, Sonadia, Kutubdia, and other coastal areas, using nets that often trap turtles. Fishermen sometimes kill these turtles to avoid complications, and their bodies later wash ashore.""We will submit a memorandum to the deputy commissioner demanding steps to protect turtles," he said.

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