KENDRAPARA: It is six in the morning yet there is no trace of fishermen at the main fishing harbour in village Kharinashi in coastal Kendrapara.

Instead they are seen fishing in nearby rivers and creeks. Reason: the authorities have imposed fishing ban from November 1 to May 31 in the Gahiramatha Marine Sanctuary covering 20 km off the coast to protect endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles.

Mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles has been quite impressive this year at the Nasi-I and Nasi-II islands of Orissa's Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, considered to be the largest rookery for sea turtles in the world, according to official sources.

PARADIP: Environmentalists and marine fauna lovers have expressed serious concern over safety of Olive Ridley turtles and other marine species in Bay of Bengal due to non-removal of sunken Mongolian ship mv Black Rose. Even five months after the cargo carrier sank, no step has been taken to dredge out the wreck.

KENDRAPARA: Sporadic nesting of the Olive Ridley sea turtles started recently at the three major rookeries at Devi river mouth, Rushikulya and Gahiramatha beach, the world

At least 1,000 endangered Olive Ridley turtles have been found dead in an Orissa beach since November, a senior state wildlife official said Wednesday.

The carcasses were spotted at various places between the mouths of the Devi and Dhamra rivers under Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, one of the world's largest turtle nesting sites, in Kendrapada district, 174 km from here.

Thousands of carcasses of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles are scattered along the stretch of sea beach from Dhamra to Paradip coast under Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, one of the largest rookeries for the species, in the ongoing turtle nesting season. As a result, bad odour emanating from the dead turtles is creating unhygienic conditions in the beaches.

Sighting of bloated and motionless bodies of Olive Ridley sea turtles lend credence to the belief that unlawful trawling operation despite prohibition is in full swing along the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in Orissa's Kendrapara district.

BHUBANESWAR: As Orissa gears up for Olive Ridley turtles to mate and nest this season, the spate of missile testings by the DRDO has the Wildlife Wing watching it very closely.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted tests in the recent past and going by its schedule, it is slated for more in the next three months.

PARADIP: Use of cellphones and VHF sets by crew members of boats and trawlers has posed a serious threat to endangered Olive Ridley turtles. Raids by Coast Guard, Forest and Fisheries officials to check illegal fishing are also proving infructuous as the fishermen are getting tipped off through the gadgets.

KENDRAPARA: Beach erosion is threatening the very existence of three major mass-nesting sites of the endangered Olive Ridley turtles at the Rushikulya beach, the Devi river mouth and the Gahirmatha beach.